UNDERTOW (2003)

A group of wise cracking friends hit the road and head out to the town of Old Mines for a sunny weekend trip down the river. On the towns boarder, the local sheriff decides to offer up a little back woods hospitality and promptly harasses the group, pouring all their weekends supply of beer away. Incensed but not deterred the group continue deeper into the town where a local legend about a killer boy begins to surface. The locals don't much care for outsiders and they have a secret weapon to deal with folks that don't belong. Bring on the pain........


The story is nothing outrageous but serves it's purpose adequately as a vehicle from one gore scene to the next. Being on the Sub Rosa 'Extreme' label you can expect a fair amount of blood shed with some pretty nice effects for a modest budget. The one scene that captured my attention the most has to be when our killer beats one of his victims senseless and then 'plays' with her lifeless body as if it were a rag doll. This whole scene, whilst not particularly gory except for a large quantity of smeared blood, had such an unsettling feeling to it that I was a little shocked at it's visual impact.


Undertow is a low budget affair that is a very competent attempt to capture the same kind of atmosphere that is so prevalent in movies like 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and 'Deliverance'. The films low grade video footage gives the production a gritty feel and, whether intentional or not, makes the viewer feel closer to the action as if they were watching something that perhaps might of actually happened. This heightens the fright factor and certainly captured my attention more than expected. Coupled with some great DVD extras and a truly hilarious blooper reel, this comes highly recommended to all true horror freaks.

Highs

Whilst standing in the river, our killer reaches into the stomach of one of his victims and pulls out fist after fist of innards, casually tossing them over his shoulder, landing with a strangely pleasant plop in the water.

Lows

Some of the dialogue, whilst delivered naturally, just tends to ramble on causing some segments to appear as a talking 'free-for-all' leading to a break down in the films flow.

Score

7 / 10