bob_meg Three college friends, Ruth, Deb, and Kate, recently graduated, set out for a long weekend at Kate's parents' remote cabin. They intend to do nothing but sunbathe, get stoned, and dish on boys until they stumble upon the loaded shotgun and dead fox stashed in their fridge.That's when they meet Ed (James Morrison), a disenfranchised mountain man who has been squatting in the usually vacant summer house for months.It's a great set-up, primarily because you never really know if Ed is a psycho or if he's just a poor homeless guy who's just angry that he's been busted by a trio of teens.It's also great because, compared to the girls, Ed seems almost well-adjusted. Ruth is a closeted lesbian with a crush on Deb, Deb is the under-achieving party girl resentful of Kate and Ruth's money and academic success, and Kate has serious man and confidence issues. Oh yeah, and there's also the fact that Deb was brutally assaulted by her stepfather years before. Then there's that almost urban legendy story of the babysitter and her boyfriend who were hacked to pieces by a deranged mountain man just miles from Kate's family's place....You get the idea. "Wilderness Survival For Girls" is chock full of rich character development, decent acting, and plenty of twists and turns (and plot angles to work them from). It's one of those movies where you won't find yourself looking at the clock once.Is it a nonstop suspense thrill ride, ala "High Tension" or "Them?" No. The thrills here are more psychological than anything. But it doesn't preclude them from being any less brutal and shocking.

saparke2 I have bought this movie twice-- the second time after I lent it to a friend and never got it back. Lucky for me the copies are cheap on Amazon.I watched this movie because it looks like every other slasher flick-- worse, a cheap indie slasher flick-- except that the reviews all over the box don't read like slasher reviews.This movie delivers on several fronts. First, it is an edge of your seat thriller and will keep you guessing. Second, it is an intimate portrayal of female friendship. I think most women will see a part of themselves in one of these girls, and all will recognize a close friend. Third, it is a mind-bending mystery. The continuity is very good. Fourth, it is a poignant social commentary, and raises very complex and relevant questions. This movie will certainly start a conversation about fear and gender if you let it. If you're looking for mindless entertainment, you're not going to get it. If you're looking for a movie about exceptional people, you're not going to get it-- the people in this movie are not cut out to be astronauts or fortune 500 executives. Each character is as fundamentally good as they are fundamentally evil.If you're a guy and you're wondering why you might enjoy this movie (since it does seem to mostly be about women), the male character in this movie is no less complex, interesting, and real than the teenage girls. I think it is a less common person who will sympathize with both the man and the teenagers in this movie. The humanity displayed in this movie is generally the kind of humanity that happens behind closed doors and is rarely ever expressed in words.Fantastic acting. Fantastic script. Breathtaking, on-location photography. Poignant societal commentary on a topic that, although it is less commercial than racism or the glass ceiling, is no less woven through the lives of everyone in western culture. This is a really great movie.

reviewrrr Really enjoyed this one. Its hard to find a new angle on teens in trouble, but they've done it for sure. Here we have three teens going out for the weekend to a remote cabin for a little girl time before they split for college or where ever. As can happen, they work themselves into knots (dark woods freak-out) and you take the ride with them. I kept thinking as I was watching this film...This is okay. The situation is still slightly controllable...oops. Okay. I can deal with this. I'll just...oops. Okay. Not so bad yet....The perfect example of 'creating your own problems' - what teens do so well. And the acting. These three were perfectly casted. Isaw this as the late show at San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival this year. I hope that it gets wider distribution. It's completely edited and packaged. I can't think of anything they can improve upon with this.

Kenn-15 This first feature from the talented producer, director, writer and editor team of Eli Despres and Kim Roberts, shot on video in 18 days, marks an impressive debut and one not to be missed, if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to catch it in a film festival or in its limited theatrical run. Otherwise, keep your eyes peeled for the DVD and video release, if you like indie films that have that unpredictable and slightly off-center (but completely authentic) feel about them. I, for one, appreciate films that can't easily be categorized, or that use established genres in interesting new ways, and this film qualifies. Three girls go to an isolated cabin retreat in the mountains of Colorado to celebrate their graduation from high school. Almost immediately lots of possibilities present themselves: Is this going to be a coming of age story? Is it going to be a "stranger in the dark woods terrorizing teenagers" slasher movie? Is it going to be a comedy about how bratty teenage girls treat each other? Well, what if some talented filmmakers put all those ingredients into a blender -- along with a few more -- and whip up a whole new, satisfying recipe? Sometimes these "genre-bending" exercises can fall flat on their faces, but in this case, the filmmakers -- because of a great script, great acting, and some beautiful camera-work and sure-footed editing -- take you along for the ride.