"Pitfall" Could Have Been a Tense Survival Thriller—But a Messy Plot Dragged It Down
Horror fans, brace yourselves: Pitfall is a wilderness survival film that almost delivers on its promise of brutal tension and relentless terror—until its convoluted storytelling gets in the way. But here’s where it gets controversial: Can a movie survive on gore and atmosphere alone when its narrative falls apart?
The Premise: A Simple Setup with Hidden Horrors
The film follows a group of friends embarking on a three-day hiking trip—until one of them plunges into a 10-foot-deep pit lined with deadly spikes, impaling his leg and leaving him trapped. What seems like a tragic accident soon reveals itself as something far more sinister: a calculated trap set by a ruthless hunter who’s stalking them.
At its core, Pitfall has a straightforward premise ripe with potential: a survival nightmare where every step could be fatal. Think The Most Dangerous Game meets The Hills Have Eyes. Yet, instead of honing in on this chilling simplicity, the film veers into unnecessary subplots and baffling narrative choices.
The Strengths: Practical Effects and a Menacing Villain
Let’s give credit where it’s due: the practical deaths are a highlight. The gore is visceral, and the kills are inventive—enough to satisfy hardcore horror fans. Randy Couture (The Expendables) plays The Hunter, a hulking, near-silent predator who dispatches his victims with terrifying efficiency. At times, he feels like a cross between Jason Voorhees and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s Leatherface—until the film inexplicably tries to humanize him with vague, half-baked backstory. (And this is the part most people miss: slasher villains are often scarier when their motives remain a mystery.)
Richard Harmon (Final Destination: Bloodline) stands out as the only character with real charisma, while the rest of the cast—including the usually magnetic Alexandra Essoe—are saddled with thinly written roles. One subplot involving grieving siblings and a tragic past feels tacked-on, drowning in melodrama instead of enhancing the suspense.
The Pitfalls (Pun Intended): A Story That Tries Too Hard
Here’s the film’s fatal flaw: Pitfall can’t decide what kind of horror movie it wants to be. Is it a survival thriller? A slasher? A psychological drama? The answer seems to be "all of the above," resulting in a messy, disjointed experience. Dream sequences and an entirely separate group of victims (who exist solely to pad the body count) further muddy the waters.
Controversial take: Some might argue that horror doesn’t need a tight plot—that atmosphere and kills are enough. But when a film introduces emotional arcs and then abandons them, or teases deeper lore only to shrug it off, it feels like a missed opportunity. Would Pitfall have been stronger as a lean, mean 80-minute chase film? Absolutely.
Final Verdict: A Forgettable Descent
Pitfall premieres at ScreamFest on October 15th, and while it has moments of brutal fun, it’s ultimately weighed down by its own ambition. The Hunter is a formidable villain, and the kills deliver—but the story’s lack of focus makes it hard to care.
Question for the audience: Do you think horror movies need a compelling plot, or are practical effects and tension enough to carry a film? Let’s debate in the comments!**
About the Author
A passionate critic with a love for horror classics like Halloween, The Shining, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, as well as cult favorites (Evil Dead, Battle Royale). Also enjoys whiskey, wrestling, and the eternal quest for the perfect "so bad it’s good" movie.
