PLOT: Two hunting buddies, and the nephew of a third hunting buddy, who was killed in a freak lightning-storm accident, go to the high desert of New Mexico for big game. The best friend of the dead uncle carries lots of baggage. The third friend is a gym rat/military guy with some interesting quirks. The nephew has his own multidimensional side. They meet a pro hunter and camp together. Then, many freaky things begin to happen.
CAST: Anthony Geary is really a terrific actor, and his years on General Hospital and in various odd 1970's and 1980's flicks give him cred here. Marc Singer is just "that guy" and has the chops to pull it off, from the weight-lifting scene to the jarhead attitude. Chuck Connors delves deep into this role of desert rat, and I think pulls off some great moments.
WRITING: Some reviews believe the script was partly ad lib. I don't think so. It looks fairly carefully-crafted. OK, there are a few ideas that left me flat, such as when the desert rat makes a stone grave, as if bodies don't have to brought back to civilization for proper burial, etc. But this film is a series of set-pieces that work, from the initial confrontation with the female campers, to the campfire "orgy", to eating a bear, to final delivery of the strange power.
MUSIC: The Native American soundtrack is both authentic and spooky, and is a treat. Many films, especially made-for-TV, skimp on soundtrack, but not this time. It added.
FLOW: The scenes don't last long, and they are like vignettes, which makes sense when you get to the punchline here. Therefore, you won't be bored. There are good philosophical lines, and laughable ones. There are intense scenes, and ridiculous ones. But it starts strong, keeps going forward, and the ending doesn't let you down.
I give it 9/10.
CAST: Anthony Geary is really a terrific actor, and his years on General Hospital and in various odd 1970's and 1980's flicks give him cred here. Marc Singer is just "that guy" and has the chops to pull it off, from the weight-lifting scene to the jarhead attitude. Chuck Connors delves deep into this role of desert rat, and I think pulls off some great moments.
WRITING: Some reviews believe the script was partly ad lib. I don't think so. It looks fairly carefully-crafted. OK, there are a few ideas that left me flat, such as when the desert rat makes a stone grave, as if bodies don't have to brought back to civilization for proper burial, etc. But this film is a series of set-pieces that work, from the initial confrontation with the female campers, to the campfire "orgy", to eating a bear, to final delivery of the strange power.
MUSIC: The Native American soundtrack is both authentic and spooky, and is a treat. Many films, especially made-for-TV, skimp on soundtrack, but not this time. It added.
FLOW: The scenes don't last long, and they are like vignettes, which makes sense when you get to the punchline here. Therefore, you won't be bored. There are good philosophical lines, and laughable ones. There are intense scenes, and ridiculous ones. But it starts strong, keeps going forward, and the ending doesn't let you down.
I give it 9/10.