Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Evidence’ (2012)

Written by Scott Edwards

Trying to get your friends to do something new may be difficult but is so worth it in the long run. When you have something that you love doing and they have never been privy to it, getting them to step out of their comfort zone just a little bit can make all the difference in the world for them. You never know if they will like it or not, but if you have known them for years on end, you have a pretty good idea if it is right for them. Making something new to bond over in the long run can only add to the strength of the relationship and that is something that is always a plus.

Ryan has come up with a great idea to use his camera, by filming his best friend Brett on his first ever camping trip. Not being too psyched about this trip, Brett agrees to go on it, since he is promised that it will be fun. Picking up Ryan’s girlfriend Abi and her friend Ashley, the group is almost ready to make their way into the hills, but there is just one more stop that they need to make. Getting to use their friend’s RV for the trip, things are starting to look up for Brett at least with the option of not having to go to the bathroom in the woods and being to take a hot shower, although that is not Ryan’s thoughts at all.

Parking the RV and making their way up the trail, Ryan spots the best spot for the group to set up camp and everyone seems to be great with it. When the sun goes down however, things start to get a little strange as the group starts to hear something wailing in the distance. Not being able to figure out what the sound is, theories span from a person to a coyote, but no one knows for sure. The strange sound dies down, but their imaginations do not as they go out for a hike and stumble upon a massive ravine that Ryan and Abi climb down into, while not seeing something strange moving in the distance. Keeping on higher ground, Brett and Ashley are freaked out about what they saw, and the group makes their way back to camp for another night.

Shortly after the group of friends relax, they are greeted by an outsider that has little to offer other than questions. After leaving, the group hears the sounds again, but now something or someone is in camp with them and shaking the tents. Knowing that it has to be someone messing around with them, Ryan takes his camera and investigates, but only finding writing on the trees, he is not able to find out who is behind the strange sounds. Laying low for a little while, the camp is threatened again and this time it is enough for Brett and the girls who head back to the RV for a good night’s sleep, but there is something most definitely following them as even their camper is getting pushed around. The group has no idea who or what is in the woods, but when the boys go missing and the girls meet at least one of their tormentors head on, it is only the beginning in a race out of the woods to find help and freedom and safety.

Another one of those found footage movies that seems to be the rage for horror in the past couple years. Each one has their little nuances and focuses on something different than the others, so they are not all exactly the same. One thing that I took away from this was the change in Ryan when he gets fed up talking about his best friend missing. It seems like before this point, he was the happy go lucky friend who wants nothing more than to have a good time, but he will not be forced into worrying about something that he does not see as an issue. I liked the group's dynamic, especially when they are all fed up with one thing or another, it made for a little more fun before the woods came alive and they discovered they were being hunted by a furry beast. I don’t want to jump into the ending since it will give away a fun little surprise about the movie, but there are guns and plenty of blood during the finale, just in case you did not get enough before the sun went down. Stay Scared.

---