Xmoor

I'm not sure why this doesn't have a higher rating on IMDb. I just saw this, and it was fun. It had a natural flow, and I liked the main character a lot. There was a twist at the end that was very unexpected. However, what happens to the bad guy was kinda silly, but it didn't negate the rest of the movie.

Melia Kreiling was very believable, and she seemed believable scared throughout her time in the forest. I think we'll see more films with her in the future.

I recommend this film. It's a solid, original thriller, and I'll watch it again. I gave this a 7-star rating.

Directed and written by Luke Hyams, and starring Nick Blood, Mark Bonnar and Melia Kreilling. This 2014 Horror film suggests it was made on Exmoor (North Devon, UK) but do not be surprised to find that if you have been there you won't recognise much as it's pretty much filmed in Northern Ireland. The film has a reported budget of £1m and a runtime of 76mins. With a potential beast on the loose this film promised lots of thrills in the dark, which should be plenty enough to tantalise horror thirsty audiences.

This film sees some documentary makers, Georgia, and Matt, going into the woods to investigate the fabled beast of Exmoor that lives in the North Devon moor. The beast is supposed to be something akin to a wild cat, maybe a puma, a panther, or a lion. Either way there is a £25k reward being offered by a local newspaper for the beast. The pair of documentary makes meet a hunter who agrees to be their guide in the woods, he is eager to help because he believes the beast is hungry for human blood. They soon discover putrefying body parts stacked up and realise that it probably is not a beast that is responsible for the bloodshed and carnage. A struggle soon ensues as Georgia and Matt fight for their lives to make it free.

This film started off well but seemed to drop in standards as it advanced. I began to wonder if the screenplay started as an idea which was fleshed out during the shooting process. It was a dark enough film with bits and bobs of tension, but it did not fully have me gripped. It probably looked better than it played out. The acting was decent without ever been good, but I have to say that I never really bought into any of the characters. They were not really that loveable or enjoyable, the annoyed me at times - and of course they made bad decisions throughout the film. Yes, this is typical horror hunt and hunted film, so expect the stars to make lots of bad decisions which is how the tension is made. I liked that the film gave us the Reality vs Myth, showing that when there are rumours of a supernatural beast it is probably just some random guy. However, by the end of the film I was left wishing that there had of been a beast roaming around.

All in all, I can think of a lot of other films that do the same but a lot better. As such this is not a film that I'll be going back to anytime soon and I can't really rate it that highly at all. 4/10

Wilderness horror. Exmoor is a national park in south-west England, a place that I have visited & explored numerous times. Therefore I felt somewhat cheated by the fact that this was filmed in Northern Ireland. Two Americans (well actually non-American actors with unconvincing accents, especially the guy) go to Exmoor to film the elusive big black cat, but instead get duped into hunting for a sick serial killer known only as The Beast. Much of the running time involves shouting & screaming in the wood at night, gets pretty tedious. It does have a few shock moments but this film fails to impress, instantly forgettable.

Two Americans go to Exmoor, England to investigate the rumors about wild cats roaming the moors. They hook up with a guy who is a hunter and set out to find one of the beasts. What they actually find is much more disturbing.

It's a pretty good premise for a horror but doesn't quite live up to its promises. The plot twists and turns unnecessarily, leaving the viewer yearning for something more punchy and less contrived. It's very much a case of the more they added, the less they got.

Melia Kreiling is probably about the best thing in the movie. She's solid in the lead role and I have a feeling we'll be seeing much more from her in the future. It is competently shot, looks and sounds good but it's the messy plot and somewhat thin characterization that prevents any real tension from building.

It does have a few moments that are effective but they are scarce and not particularly scary. I didn't hate this film but I doubt I'd give it a second viewing in a hurry.

X Moor: A couple set out to make a documentary about the Beast of Exmoor hoping that with the help of a hunter they will manage to film the fabled beast. But all is not as it seems. A serial killer is at work on the moor and they find bodies he has dumped. A cat and mouse hunt proceeds where they try to trap the killer but he is dangerous prey. some interesting twists along the way with stabbings and shootings interspersed with chases through a dark forest. Perhaps the film is a bit too clever for its own good with one plot twist too many. Still, it's a watchable horror-thriller. Written and Directed by Luke Hyams. On the Horror Channel. 6/10.