TIMBER FALLS

TIMBER FALLS

Somewhat perplexed as to how yet another survival horror movie had made it's way into cinemas here in the UK (more so a low budget American one with no big name 'talent' linked to it) I was certainly intrigued to find out just how 'Timber Falls' stood out from the legions of similar genre movies enough to reach the big screen.

In the usual predicable style, the film follows hapless city dwellers (and wannabe hikers) Mike and Sheryl as they leave the comfort of their non-entity middle class lives for a weekend of safe rambling and camping in the backwoods of Hicksville USA. As is always the case in such movies, the local sheriff warns them not to stray off the safe tracks, which in genre movie terms means that's obviously the first thing they're going to do!

Soon after wandering off they stop to 'make out' only to be interrupted by some passing inbreds who after making menacing posturing approaches about the topless Sheryl (natch, another horror movie standard - perhaps we should start playing genre movie bingo watching these movies!?) the wary couple move on their way; but not before Sheryl, in true dumb ass plot frustration style, makes Mike get rid of the bullets from the gun he's carrying - duh!?

The following morning, and as expected from any uninspired genre movie of late, the unlucky (or should that be deserved) couple end up entrapped in the all too familiar Texas Chainsaw Massacre environment as they're chained/bolted in a musty cellar dwelling as the resident Leatherface character drools and paws in glee at his latest captives.

Now this would normally be the point where I'd sigh in disbelief and reach for the fast forward button on the remote control (well the films rubbed its balls up against everything from Last House to Deliverance to Texas Chainsaw amongst others already) if not for one key point…the introduction of Clyde and Ida.

Deputy sheriff Clyde is introduced casually earlier in the movie as a friendly religious minded helpful soul, similarly the homely Ida appears briefly as a similarly mildly religious but amiable character but it's when Mike and Sheryl are entrapped in the hellhole cellar dwelling Clyde and Ida's true colours come to the fore. You see, poor Ida wants a child bad; so much so that she keeps the countless miscarriages she's had in jars around the home and Clyde will do whatever is necessary (along with their Leatherface compatriot) to get Ida the live child she's always wanted and if kidnapping and torturing couples is what it takes then he'll make it so.

Now of course, essentially this then plays out to simply be an extension of the classic Texas Chainsaw scenario but here with a more prominent (and deeply visceral) religious angle which gives 'Timber Falls' an intensely gratifying edge that makes the first overtly predicable 40 minutes or so worth sitting through for an extended finale that both delivers the goods in gruelling graphic violence but welcomingly attacks middle America's religious standing. And whilst director Tony Giglio does a solid job with the films production full kudos must go to the performances of leads Beth (Ida) Broderick and Nick (Clyde) Searcy, who following his stunning performances in sleeper classics 'Neighborhood Watch' and 'Cold Storage' delivers the goods yet again so much so that I'm at a loss as to why Searcy has not had the recognition he rightly deserves as a potential genre icon?

So yes, it is perhaps questionable as to just how a movie so predicable in genre standards such as 'Timber Falls' found its way onto theatrical screens but on closer inspection of the fine balance of splendid character portrayal by the likes of Searcy and Broderick alongside some finely tuned intense horror in the final reel you'll perhaps start to understand why. By no means original in any way but still a very worthwhile (albeit predictably old school) horror romp - check it out!

Review by Alan Simpson


 
Released by Scanbox Entertainment
Rated 18
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