Outpost

Outpost was not what I was expecting, I had put off watching it for a while but was certainly pleased that I finally sat down to view it. The story is about a woman who has been abused mostly all her life, in adulthood she has a restraining order against her ex partner who is abusive and he breaks the order and attacks her. She survives physically, but mentally she is not coping at all. Seeking a way out, she takes a volunteer job at a fire tower organized through her best friend's brother. What ensues then is the slow decay of her character mentally, as she battles with the seclusion and her trauma memories.

It has a nice twist that rounds off the movie perfectly. I don't want to give any spoilers in that regard. I enjoyed watching it. Give it a go.

I gave this film a chance purely because it was written and directed by Joe Lo Trulio, who I like from Brooklyn 99. On the hole, I suspect that if were not, it would not exist. That is to say, if the average person wrote this, it probably would still be in a word document on someones laptop.

As Kate (the lead character) suffers from flashbacks and hallucinations from a harrowing past, we come to understand her plight. But we're asked to believe that she would seek solitude in a fire watch tower located somewhere in the middle of a mountain range in Idaho by means of escape. I dont think its a spoiler to say that they dont. The synopsis of the movie would have you believe that something darker is going to manifest, but really.. it does not.

The location itself was probably the best bit. It made for some great tree and mountain porn. On the one hand some of the photography (or videography) was fantastic, with some great shots and points of view (mostly of mother nature), it was dragged down by periods of hand held shakey cam with really poor directive choices (mostly of people and action sequences). They gave me an actual physical headache.

While the concepts of abuse, made for a good basis for a story the use of the ideas to drive the narrative just didn't feel cohesive. So for the most part I wasnt sure what I was watching and came very close to quitting before the end. And so, despite the disconnect, the last part of the film was okay (nearing good) and ultimately worth the watch if you can make it past the beginning.

Rating Breakdown: Story - 1.00 :: Direction - 1.25 :: Pacing - 1.25 :: Performances - 1.00 :: Entertainment - 1.00 :::: TOTAL - 5.5/10

Solitude, trauma, and creeping paranoia: Outpost has all the ingredients for a chilling psychological thriller. It begins with promise: Kate, a woman seeking escape from a violent past, takes a job in the remote wilderness, only to find that the real horror lies within. Writer-director Joe Lo Truglio builds tension well, creating an atmosphere where silence is suffocating, strangers feel like threats, and past trauma seeps into every corner of Kate's fragile reality. There are standout moments, such as the brilliantly unsettling café scene where an entire room seems to turn against her in quiet judgment, and Truglio's direction makes excellent use of sudden, shocking violence to mirror Kate's unravelling mind.

But just when the film should take us deeper into her madness, it hesitates. Instead of a harrowing psychological breakdown, we get a restrained, tentative decline that never fully grips. It flirts with disturbing brilliance but ultimately backs away. Beth Dover's performance is equally inconsistent; sometimes she nails Kate's defiant strength, but other times, her expressions feel oddly disconnected from the character's turmoil. The supporting cast, however, delivers solid performances, adding layers to an otherwise underdeveloped descent.

Outpost is intriguing, occasionally effective, but ultimately frustrating. It promises a dark, psychological spiral and then loses its nerve. Still, for those who prefer their psychological horror on the milder side, it is worth a watch. Just do not expect to be haunted by it for long.

No pun intended - if, when and once you've seen the movie (maybe you already have), you will understand what I mean with that. You may know the director as sidekick in Brooklyn 99 .. he seems to have a knack for horror thrillers ... and the story overall is enticing ... though for anyone who has seen a few horror movies ... well they know what is up.

Or rather what is going to go down (which almost is another pun, right?) ... the main actress is giving it her all - and we care for her to a degree, but she is not doing herself any favors (or anyone else for that matter) ... you can't be too soft and squeamish about violence ... there are some effects and some .... well things are going to happen (or not), that will test how much you can stomache.

No pun intended. But seriously. If you want a gore fest and lots of over the top drama, look elsewhere. If you want to watch something about trauma, horror, psychological messed up that we can be, discovery, curiosity, the human psyche, and loss, then you got it. Just go for it. Don't expect some over the top horror experience. But if you are looking for something that is a slower burn, to leave you curious as you watch, good actors, and beautiful cinematography then you got it. This movie isn't a regular horror flick, but hits in the feelings of psychological curiosity and messed-up-ness. Just watch it.