BLACK ROCK (2013)

Directed & Story By: Katie Aselton 
Written By: Mark Duplass 
Cinematography By: Hillary Spera 
Editor: Jacob Vaughn 

 Cast: Katie Aselton, Kate Bosworth, Lake Bell

Three women who were good friends in the past get back together for the first time since they were kids to spend time on an island called Black Rock. They meet some local hunters and find out they know one of them from when they were children. After inviting them to join them in a few drinks on the beach, the atmosphere changes into one of panic and horror as the situation and friendships are turned on their head in a brutal confrontation.

This thriller I thought would be more exciting. It has plenty of tension yet feels like it falls short of it's premise. While going for a more realistic look and reactions to situations.

While short the film wastes no time getting to it's main premise. That is part of the problem instead of simmering, it goes full speed ahead without slowing down and giving a few moments of nuance.

The one dimensional characters have a blood list immediately explained away weakly. Only one of them seems to want to stop and think about what has happened and is this worth it.

The set up of the characters already makes them seem disturbing and the initial event that sets up the rest of the film could have been more of a STRAW DOGS type situation. Where it is left up to the audience interpretation or at least a better build up instead of cut and dry blatant.

Even in the beginning The set up, we get to know a bit about the female characters and their dynamics, but before we get to really spend time with them and get to know them. So we are a bit more endeared to them. They meet up with the others and the story gets going and we more side with them as victims more trying to survive then full blooded characters.

It's nice to see this type of thriller handled by a female director. Hoping showing the typical toe of survivor sort through a different set of eyes. While it's a different take, it's not necessarily a good one or a passable one.

The action and violence though simple and low-fi make you feel nothing there is no shock, awe or excitement. It just seems To happen with certainly no thrills. Low budget as it is, you would expect better action sequences.

I really wanted to like the film as I do like the actresses and it is written by Mark Duplass (CYRUS) A noted filmmaker himself.

I guess, I was hoping for a new version of this type of tale with a different vision and instead this came off as a more typical effort.

It's like the filmmakers never saw an action film. It's textbook, but leaves a lot to be desired though the normal dialogue, girl bonding scenes work. It's like the thriller, action element sneak up on them. Which might make it seem more natural, but in this case makes it all the more abrupt.

It just feels lazily written like a cash in by people. It really interested in the genre

The villains are stereotypical. Not too smart and work with little reasoning. Not really successful at hunting or being psychopaths.

This film feels like a money grab as the filmmakers behind this film are better and smarter than the material. Which they have shown in better films where not much happens.

A rental.

 Grade: C