Backwoods (2008) (TV)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Marty Weiss

Writer:

Anthony Jaswinski (written by)

Release Date:

3 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Nature has a dark side.

Plot:

While camping in Jasper Park up North California, the couple Tom Alan Smithee and Gwen Marie Holden...

Plot Keywords:

Caged Human | Harelip | Backwoods | Rape Attempt | Bound And Gagged

Cast

Ryan Merriman	...	Adam
Danny Nucci	...	Perry Walters
Haylie Duff	...	Lee
Mark Rolston	...	Ricks
Troy Winbush	...	Basso
Deborah Van Valkenburgh	...	Ruth
Craig Zimmerman	...	Dash
Mimi Michaels	...	Maggie
Jamison Yang	...	Mike Chen
Jonathan Slavin	...	Paul
Eric Larkin	...	Bartender
Willow Geer	...	Gwen
Robert Allen Mukes	...	Josiah (as Robert 'Bonecrusher Mukes)
John Hemphill	...	Ranger
Blake Lindsley	...	Agent Tommers

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence.

Runtime:

Japan:85 min (DVD version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:MA (DVD release) | Australia:MA (2008) | USA:R

Company:

Bobby Weisman Caterers

Trivia:

While shooting Backwoods, stunt man, Kai Nuuhiwa was held at gun point with two forest rangers. Nuuhiwa stepped back and raised both arms in the air, away from his blank shooting rifle.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The MISSING sign has a date of Feb. 30, 2008.

Movie Connections:

References "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962)

Again?

While camping in Jasper Park up North California, the couple Tom Alan Smithee and Gwen Marie Holden (Willow Geer) are attacked by a group of strangers; Tom is immediately killed and Gwen is abducted by the men to an underground facility to breed. A couple of months later, in Los Angeles, the manager of a video game company Johnny Dash (Craig Zimmerman) invites the employees Adam Benson (Ryan Merriman), Lee (Haylie Duff), Maggie (Mimi Michaels), Perry (Danny Nucci), Chris Basso (Troy Winbush), Paul (Jonathan Slavin) and Mike Chen to participate of a Battle Royal with paint-ball in a corporate retreat in the Jasper Park to practice executive tactics. When they arrive in a gas station owned by weird rednecks, they refuel their trucks and see a poster telling that Gwen and Tom are missing since 30 February 2008 and have been last seen in Jasper Park. They head to a former military reservation area in the national park and camp. During the night, Adam has the sensation that the group is under observation and he unsuccessfully warns his colleagues. When the game starts on the next morning, the group finds that their training is more than a paint-ball game, but a fight for survival in a hostile ground whose inhabitants are maniac lunatics.

"Backwoods" is not a bad movie, meaning that the acting, direction and effects are decent. However, there is a total lack of originality in the story, which is a rip-off or remake of "The Hills Have Eyes", "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Wrong Turn", "Timber Falls" and others less famous movies. The character Perry is extremely stupid to be considered a "top-executive", and I could not see how this stupid game could improve "executive tactics". I could understand if the isolation could improve teamwork increasing friendship, but what we see is the leader shagging one employee and great rivalry and competition among coworkers. The unusual 7 shots revolver does exist; therefore, the seven shots of Adam Benson is not a mistake. The date on the poster (30 February 2008) is a big joke, The open end is scary since it seems to indicate a possible sequel. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "O Bosque" ("The Bush")