Imagine being trapped in a pit of spikes, only to realize it’s not an accident—someone is hunting you. That’s the chilling premise of Pitfall, a wilderness survival film that had all the ingredients to be a gripping horror experience but ultimately stumbles over its own messy storytelling. As someone who recently got an early look at this ScreamFest debut, I can’t help but feel a mix of frustration and missed potential. Here’s why.
Pitfall kicks off with a simple yet terrifying scenario: a group of friends embarks on a three-day hike, only for one of them to plummet into a 10-foot-deep pit lined with spikes, impaling his leg. What starts as a seemingly accidental fall quickly spirals into a nightmare when they discover a relentless hunter is stalking them. It’s a premise ripe with tension and gore, but the film struggles to stay focused. And this is the part most people miss: instead of leaning into its strengths, Pitfall tries to juggle too many ideas, from awkward narrative choices to a random subplot that goes nowhere.
Take, for instance, the dramatic beats that feel shoehorned into the finale. We’re reminded of events we already know about, which only serves to distract rather than enhance the climax. Then there’s the subplot involving two siblings in the friend group, whose parents died during a similar hike. It’s a compelling backstory, but it’s handled so clumsily that it veers into absurdity. You’re left wondering if the trauma was meant to add depth or just fill screen time.
The characters don’t fare much better. Richard Harmon, known for Final Destination: Bloodline, stands out as one of the few interesting figures, bringing natural charisma to his role. But the rest of the cast feels disposable, lacking the personality needed to make you care about their fate. Even Alexandra Essoe, an actress I admire, is saddled with a frustratingly one-dimensional character. But here’s where it gets controversial: the film introduces a secondary group of characters being hunted by the same killer, and it feels like a cheap excuse for more death scenes. These characters are so underdeveloped that they’re essentially just cannon fodder, straight out of a slasher flick playbook.
Speaking of the killer, Randy Couture plays The Hunter, a character who feels like a mashup of Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. His violent efficiency is undeniably entertaining, but the film’s attempt to explain his origins falls flat. Is he a slasher villain or a deranged hermit? The mixed messages leave you scratching your head.
What Pitfall does get right are the practical death scenes—they’re creative and well-executed. But these moments are overshadowed by the film’s narrative chaos, which jumps between dream sequences, secondary plots, and tonal shifts that never quite land. If the filmmakers had stuck to a straightforward story of a group being hunted by a crazed killer, it could have been a solid, tense thriller. Instead, it feels like they threw everything at the wall and hoped something would stick.
Here’s the burning question: Is Pitfall a victim of its own ambition, or did it simply bite off more than it could chew? While it’s not a total failure, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this could have been a much more satisfying experience with tighter focus. As it stands, it’s a forgettable entry in the survival horror genre, despite its promising premise.
Catch Pitfall at ScreamFest on October 15th, and let me know—did you find it as frustratingly uneven as I did? Or did it work for you in ways I missed? Let’s debate in the comments!
