Devil's Path

Pretty okay but I expected more actual horror in this. I still find it sad people have ever had to hook up in such an odd way though it's probably how I'd best hookup with someone in all honesty. Not what I was expecting but a good film.

The story is weak. The characters are weak. The premise is entirely unbelievable at best.

I wanted to like this movie. The overall plot and synopsis sounded good, and the use of a setting popular with M2M hookups and anonymity was a good device. I would not really call it an LGBT+ movie, as much as a thriller that uses an LGBT+ setup.

That is the part that worked. Where the movie falters is in the actual direction and really odd script writing. It dragged when it should have been moving fast and became clumsy when it should have been cautious. The script didn't help. It needed to remember it was a thriller, but instead became loaded with too much unrealistic dialogue, corny scenes, and (UGH!) monologues.

Also, about a third of the way through, you can predict much of the mystery. Just enough to make you feel like it needs to end already. I fast forwarded through many parts of the movie. The third act also technically showed the big flaws in the directing.

There was a few twists towards the end, but it just made me think too much about mental health issues rather than insight or sympathy.

In short it felt like a college film project that was filmed in a weekend. Grade C-

Overall a decent thriller with some good plot twists. As some have said here, these are not always unexpected, but they are generally well handled. I didn't think the dialogue dragged the plot down giving it a slow pace, even if there is some unevenness here and there. Aspects of the ending are bleak, but there are surprises. As in many horror movies, monstrosity breeds monstrosity, whether it is recognized or not. The story could have been clearer in places, but generally worth watching for anyone who likes some darkness in lgbtq films.

About halfway in, I turned the settings on my surround sound speakers off for the dialogue. Without the weird and disjointed plot and script, the cinematography and music were atmospheric and tense. There were a number of scenes that were intense and claustrophobic, and coveyed a very real sense of unease, fear and suspicion.

Then I looked up the actual plot. And it was terrible. It really was a shame this movie's story brought the film down. The photography and lighting were pretty good, as was the accompanying soundtrack.