If you can get past the clumsy, clichéd opening scene (and I almost didn't) you will discover both an atmospheric, serious, technically well-made, frequently interesting film and, at the same time, a film with major weaknesses that is also frequently tedious and confounding. Do the good points outweigh the bad? It would depend on what is most important to the individual. The stupid, reckless behavior of the characters (necessary to drive the film forward) is justified by the fact that they are depicted as stupid, reckless people. However since they are also neither interesting nor sympathetic (which are more important to me than that horrible Hollywood phrase "likable") it is impossible to care or be concerned for them. They are presented believably (sadly, I've met similar types) - and believably performed by the actors - but that's never going to allow for the necessary third act switch to hero mode and even as victims I found myself on the side of "whatever is in the woods" more than once. Yet overall the mood is always strong, and the mystery grows unnervingly, but then it is diluted by too much repetitive action (caught, survived, escapes, caught, rinse and repeat) and the inexplicable occurrence of sustaining injuries that never seem to last more than a few minutes - or until, another round of survived-escapes-and caught again. Disagreeable, and boring, characters, lapses in logic, and even very confused and inconsistent geography and staging do nothing to help the film, but I return again to the impressively ominous and creepy tone; much of the photography and editing is excellent and there are some very nice and original developments (a mute woman wandering by the side of the road who attaches herself to the characters as if entitled, and who may be viewed as a victim or a threat, is by far the best) that makes it difficult to simply disregard the film or suggest everyone bypass it. With the exception of that opening scene (which feels like it was tacked on from another movie) there is enough violent threat, scares (not the easy-cheesy jump-scare type) and creepy scenes to appease even a discerning watcher of genre films, but the question remains; do the good points outweigh the bad? And I'll admit that I felt one way immediately after the movie ended, and another way by the time this review was written.
