Black Rock (2012)

Black Rock (2012) Basically, three childhood friends meet up for a weekend on the remote island of Black Rock. They soon realize that they are not alone…

In more detail, they used to be best friends, but after a fight, Sarah, Lou, and Abby go their separate ways. Lou and Abby, in particular, had been at loggerheads for years. To reconcile, the trio travels to a deserted island. On this supposedly deserted island, the trio meets three men who wield guns. One of them is their old classmate, Henry Wallace. He has come to the island with his military comrades, Derek and Alex, to hunt undisturbed. Soon after, following a dramatic event that turns into a nightmare, the three women find themselves on the run…

The music of The Kills (Future Starts Now) and Lovett (Black Rock), among others, plays extremely well in this film. Kathryn Aselton is an American actress, director, and producer. She directed and starred in The Freebie and has done the same here. Unfortunately, despite her talent and efforts, this film just doesn’t manage to be good. You know that this kind of film will or can descend into violence, but there’s too much of it for me, especially in the last part. OK, I admit it’s a bit my fault because I didn’t see that it said “Horror” or even “Horror” on some sites. I thought it was just going to be a Dramatic Thriller.

I’m also desperately trying to watch Kate Bosworth films and find the good ones. This is no mean feat for me, as so far, there’s only Before I Wake (2016), Superman Returns (2006), and The Domestics (2018) that I’ve really liked. Let’s just say that a trio of films is not bad! It’s not the case for every actor to appear in great works. Straw Dogs (2011) is good, but nothing more; My Movie Project (2012) really sucks. I’m not a big fan of The Immaculate Room (2022), which isn’t bad either. What’s a shame is that she’s very good here, as are the other two. The trio of actresses—Bosworth (Sarah), Bell (Lou), and Aselton (Abby)—do a marvelous job in this film.

Extremely natural and authentic, believable, and endearing, these three touching women give us very good performances with emotions that are right for each situation and unique for each of them. Their psychology is well explored, showing us their weaknesses and their strengths. On the other hand, the impulsive Derek (played by Jay Paulson) struggles to scare us, being a caricature of the rabid redneck.

I discovered Lake Bell. Apparently, she made no impression on me in the very bad No Strings Attached (2011), and I haven’t seen her other films. I think It’s Complicated (2009) with Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, and Steve Martin, as well as Home Again (2017) with Reese Witherspoon, would be worthwhile, even if Bell doesn’t have a lead role in them. It seems to me that she alternates between horror films and comedies. As for Katie Aselton, she’s in quite a lot of horror, including The Unholy (2021) with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Synchronic (2019) with Anthony Mackie. So much for those few non-movie details.

Regarding the film, I found this review: “Uh…. Is something going to happen soon or not? Tired of waiting, I give up…. Tired of wasting my time.”

Clearly, I think this person loves action and gore. As a result, she would have just enjoyed the last half-hour, which spoiled my own enjoyment! This survival film is effective at times, but ultimately unoriginal. It’s a long way from the classics of the genre and is more at the (musty) bottom of the pile. The direction will seem flat to many. Two of the young women are seen walking around naked after their clothes get wet, but she gets them back in the early hours of the morning. The military is as professional as I am an astronaut… In fact, this film will displease quite a few people. It will be frowned upon by those looking for suspenseful drama (like me), but will also disappoint horror fans, who will find it too gentle (of course!) and predictable.

The proof is in this comment: “This Deliverance-like film is far too soft to arouse interest. It borders on the amateurish in terms of direction, acting, and script. And it’s best not to mention the make-up and special effects…”

A short film that lacks consistency. What it gains in realism, it loses in suspense, although its credibility is open to question. And then, these women who suddenly turn into Rambos are quite talkative. Admittedly, we’ve seen worse in the genre, but in this case, it’s as if we’re swallowing a dish without salt. That said, there are still a handful of people who thought it was “A unique masterpiece! With a realism never imitated in the genre!”

Yes, you can see everything from another point of view. Because here, there’s no artifice or superpowers; it’s simply REAL. Three women who want to reunite on a small islet find themselves “hunted” by three ex-marines who have been dishonorably discharged.

The film plunges us into a situation that makes us wonder: “What would you really do in this situation?” We city folk, who are just scared to walk past the station at night, how would we react in this situation? This film just suggests three women leading different lives and how their likely reactions would be. And we are immersed in their fight for survival. Despite its few qualities, the film disappoints with its lack of originality and scares. What’s more, the final battle is hardly credible. Black Rock is a rather gripping film, led by good actresses, but it disappoints with its obvious simplicity of script.