A new wilderness thriller plunges its characters into a nightmare scenario ripped from tragic history, pitting them against one of nature’s most formidable predators. While the film delivers visceral, terrifyingly authentic animal attacks, its human drama fails to leave a mark of equal depth.
Inspired by a rare and horrific 1967 incident in Glacier National Park, the story unfolds during a tense fire season. Rangers, already preoccupied with the threat of wildfire, are unprepared for the dual dangers of reckless campers and a rogue grizzly bear on the hunt.
The narrative follows a group of young park employees and visitors whose plans for a summer getaway turn catastrophic. Separated across the vast terrain, they find themselves isolated and vulnerable when the bear strikes. The initial assault is depicted with brutal, unflinching realism, capturing the sheer helplessness of facing an enraged, quarter-ton predator.
The film excels in these moments of raw survival horror. The geography of the attack site and the frantic, desperate logistics of the rescue attempt are rendered with a near-clinical precision that amplifies the terror. The focus on the grim physical aftermath of the mauling adds a layer of distressing authenticity.
However, the framework built around these intense sequences feels shaky. The period setting, intended to be the 1960s, lacks conviction, often appearing overly bright and sanitized. The interpersonal conflicts and teen dramas meant to make us invest in the characters come across as thin and formulaic, failing to generate the necessary emotional stakes.
Only one subplot—following a rookie ranger thrust into a leadership role during the crisis—manages to convey a meaningful sense of growth and resolve. The film’s concluding message about respecting wildlife and wilderness boundaries is well-founded, but it arrives after a journey where the human elements consistently feel secondary to the animal menace.
Ultimately, this is a thriller that understands the mechanics of fear but struggles to make us care about the people caught in its jaws. The beast is compelling; its human counterparts, less so.
The film is available on digital platforms.
