Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Devil’s Trail’

Written by Scott Edwards

It is always nice to get back to nature once in a while, especially if you are stuck indoors and away from the elements for most of your life. While I don’t go camping every weekend, since I am not as young or as spry as I once was, I still like to head out for the occasional hike and take in what Mother Nature has made for me. It is easy to forget all of the great things that nature can offer us, especially when we have so much technology surrounding us all day long. Only you can decide when the time is right to do this, but don’t keep putting it off, because a release from the technology ridden world is needed more often than not.
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Getting a ride to their next filming location, television personalities Hank and Dallas are ready for anything that the Pine Barren woods can throw at them. Telling their viewers, a little bit about the history of the location that they will be hiking through, they also bring up the legend of the Jersey Devil who has been seen along the trail. Not wanting this to be the focus of their filming of a 21 Day Survival Challenge, they try to stay off of the topic and are happy to see that they have found something else to talk about. 

After running into a small coven of witches performing a ritual in the woods, Hank is able to interview each of them and get their stories, but they are not all good-hearted as the third witch passes on a warning for the men to leave. Ignoring this and making their way to the first campsite, the two get a fire going and fall asleep, but Hank is a little concerned about what is hiding in the woods. Hearing a sound that wakes him up, Hank wants to know who or what is out there, but not being able to see anything, he is forced to let his fear hide inside of himself. Starting day two, the men are able to find a water source which was needed, but no food yet and set up camp again on an empty stomach.

Being awakened again in the middle of the night, Hank sees two glowing red eyes staring at him in the woods. Not knowing what kind of animal this is and thinking that the reflection of the flashlight caused the glowing effect, Hank is sure that there is someone or something stalking the campground. Dallas keeps his cool around his co-star and keeps the importance of making the show in the front of his mind, but as the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, it is apparent that the two men will need to work together to survive. But with a lack of food and water around them, Dallas is starting to get frustrated by Hank and his silly stories and the two quickly find themselves at a breaking point when Mother Nature starts to lay her hand down on them.

This is a found footage movie that starts off cheery and fun but takes a turn for the worse when it is apparent that the characters are not prepared for what lies ahead of them. While you get all kinds of great advice from the hosts about how to survive, you also get a good list of mistakes you should not make, like not bringing a map. I liked how Hank’s concern of what is hiding in the woods came through while the story played out, but when Dallas loses it, well, I was left wondering if he was going to kill his friend. I enjoyed the hiking banter that was given throughout, and while I am sure I would get tired of someone yapping in my ear all day and night, it was pretty funny and kept me smiling until things turned real. With a bag of batteries, a 21 Day Survival Challenge, declining weather, a group of witches, a growling in the woods and the overall fear of the unknown, this is pretty fun found footage movie that shows you that you can still have fun with the genre and make a great ending to keep the audience guessing. Stay Scared.

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