Awakening in a strange lab, a group of strangers are soon taken to a remote house in the woods where they are subjected to a never-ending series of attacks by a swarm of creatures that each one has a personal connection to and must find a way to work together to get away alive.
This was a solid enough effort that has a lot more going for it than expected. Among the better features here is the rather fun setup that provides a decent reasoning for bringing the group together and starting them out on the journey through here. The idea of bringing the strangers together in the random location by the government agents and starting them out on their quest to figure out what's going on with the belief that they're being kept there for the sake of the viewing agents' amusement only to learn there's a genuine reason to have them there keeps this first half immensely intriguing. The unraveling mystery about what's going on with each of the different patrons discovering their own connection to a mystical beast or creature that gives them a reason to be at the house and the encounters with the various creatures that each of them have an experience with, giving this a solid enough storyline. That provides the basis for a decent enough series of encounters with the various creatures throughout here. The episodic nature of everything where they come about each of the creatures individually with the first few bits involving the alien rampaging against the alien hunters in the woods or the team confronting the more humanoid creature at the house in the woods where they're held for the process are quite fun each, using more brawling setpieces that show the group getting either systematically wiped out or getting the upper hand on their tormentors. The series of final confrontations with the creatures getting involved in attacking them when they try to leave makes for some fun times not just with the cheesy action but the revelations that come about, giving this some decent aspects. There are some big issues here that show up here. The main issue with this one is the idea of it going for more of a serialized setup that manages to simply leave everything with more questions than anything. Moving from one setup to another with no buildup or purpose makes this fly by quickly but also leaves it so quick that it barely has time to breathe as to why they're doing what they or what each of the creatures is supposed to represent. As it's implied that each of the different creatures is based on their personal histories with each one but beyond mentioning what they have to face from their nightmares there's no chance at introducing everything or setting up a purpose for including it so it just goes by without much going for it. As well, there's also the ever-present indie presentation as the low-budget here is obvious and present throughout the film, making for some problematic times throughout here.
Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.
