Jumbled Thoughts: Backcountry

I just finished watching “Backcountry” - a film that came out last year about a couple that go on a camping trip in the woods and are stalked by a bear.

I was expecting a sort of predictable survival story with characters I’ve seen a million times before making stupid mistakes which ultimately lead to their all too foreseeable deaths.

“Backcountry” was not that.

Now, before I really start to get into it I want to make one thing clear here: I’m not really great at traditional “reviews”. I don't like writing them. When I think about movies, I generally just type my semi-organized thoughts on it and wonder why anyone would bother reading it. Hence, "jumbled thoughts". 

So, the one thing that really stood out for me in “Backcountry” that tends to be lacking in horror was the depth of the main characters and their relationship with each other. There is no unnecessary exposition which leads to very natural dialogue and reactions as circumstances unfold around them. They seem like a real couple with real affections and real struggles. I wanted them both to survive. I really did. 

I especially enjoyed the change in the female lead’s personality once her boyfriend stopped trying to shield her from what was happening. There really is so much great development in the characters. 

You’re also well into the movie before the bear shows up. So far in in fact that halfway through I forgot what the main plot of the film was. Which is not to say that “Backcountry” is wrapped up in subplots and can’t stay focused, it’s more a credit to its slow build and tension. And it is tense. When signs on the bear start to show up, you start to get nervous. As things slowly build, your shoulders get tense. When something finally does happen, it’s almost a relief. 

Almost.

I really want to avoid spoilers but I have to say this: there is one scene of violence in the movie. Just one. And it is fucking brutal. In part because what you’re seeing and hearing really is just awful but also because it’s the first aggressive thing to happen in the movie so you’re just really shocked by it.  

This whole movie is such a refreshing change from new horror as of late: no stupid and/or false jump scares, no predictable dialogue or events, no wooden characters - it’s a really great flick about two people who get themselves into an awful situation, not a movie about a killer bear in the woods. 

Hello-

I'm the second "contributor" for this space. Cary, a good friend of mine, had the idea of starting this blog as a way of having us talk about all things horror [since that's what we both love, with bits of caffeine and life interspersed]. 

So, why horror? My Dad actually got me into horror films when I was a little kid. One year for my birthday he went out and bought me a VHS of "The Exorcist" [which my Mom then made him return]. Ever since then I've been into all things horror, whether it be movies, television, books, comic books, and everything in-between.

Keeping with the theme, here's a few facts about myself and what have you:

Name is: Zach ["Ghoul" is preferable, but alas I haven't gotten it to catch on quite yet]

Favorite Horror Film: "Suspiria", "Phantom of the Paradise", "An American Werewolf In London" and "Candyman" are some of my all time favorite films. I'm a sucker for classics, especially Dario Argento, Brian De Palma & Clive Barker. I also definitely have a soft spot for the campy 80's franchises like "Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Sleepaway Camp".

Favorite Type of Horror Films: I'll always appreciate a good creature feature or haunting flick, and I also love those over-the-top gory movies [although not all gore movies are great, i.e. "A Serbian Film", that movie was wholly unnecessary].

-Other than that, I wouldn't say I have a "Least Favorite Type" when it comes to horror. It usually just comes down to whether or not I liked the movie or idea.

As I mentioned before, I have been into horror ever since I was a kid. I used to watch old re-runs of "The Gate" on TV and then get too scared to go into my basement. 

The One Horror Flick I Can't Wait To Show People: A new flick called "The Hallow" that just premiered at Sundance got some killer reviews. They haven't released the trailer yet but already I want to see it. Do yourself a favor and look it up!

I guess for now that's it.

More things to come~

Hey there.

So, I like horror movies. I like them a lot. I also like horror video games, coffee and adorable animals. 

I like them so much and found myself wanting to talk about them so often that I figured a blog would be a good outlet for that. As luck would have it, an amazing colleague of mine feels the same way.

So this is “Beans and Blood” - a blog about all things horror and maybe some bits about coffee and life in Boston. 

Here is a little more of a personal introduction to me in the form of that most loved Internet format - the survey:

Name: Cary. Hi!

Favorite Horror Flick: The Babadook. This is a recent change for me. Until I recently saw this movie, it was another very different type of horror flick which held this title for me. I’d say more here, but we’ll get into that later. 

Favorite Type of Horror: I really dig psychological horror and old school type horror flicks - things that go bump in the night. Examples? I really enjoyed The Conjuring and The Others. While these are my favorite type of horror films, I also blindly enjoy super gory, over the top horror like the Evil Dead remake and the classics like the Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street series. 

Least favorite type of Horror: There really isn’t much that I can’t find some fun in or won’t watch, but I generally don’t seek out straight up torture flicks like the Hostel and Saw films. I also won’t watch movies with graphic rape like I Spit on Your Grave and Irreversible. Never seen those films and never will.

How Long Have You Been Into Horror: Not really sure. When I was younger, everything scared me so I never watched scary movies. I don’t remember when that changed. It’s been a long time, for sure. 

Favorite Horror One-Liner: “Welcome to primetime, bitch!”

So that’s me. 

Thanks for stopping in.