Scratch the surface of any festival and you’re bound to turn up a barrage of tiny gems, films that got overlooked from the glitzier packages hogging the red carpet. And this year at the Sundance Film Festival, horror hounds likely heard the buzz surround the Aussie flick “Killing Ground.” Whether they did or not, it’s now on the way, and you won’t want to miss it.
Starring Harriet Dyer, Aaron Glenane, Aaron Pederson, and Ian Meadows, and directed by Damien Power, the premise is familiar: a couple goes camping in the woods, only to encounter some very nasty business. But the execution is sharp and smart, with our review adding that the picture serves up “some disturbingly heinous violence.” Here’s the official synopsis:
A couple’s romantic camping trip becomes a desperate fight for survival in this ultra-raw, unhinged kill ride. In need of a break from the pressures of their life in the city, Sam (Harriet Dyer) and Ian (Ian Meadows) head to a remote beach for a weekend getaway. When they come across an abandoned campsite, with no trace of its occupants, they’re concerned. When they discover a lone, traumatized child nearby, they’re scared. And when they encounter two local sociopaths (Aaron Glenane, Aaron Pederson), they’re in for a hell of a bad time. Weaving with unexpected twists and turns, Killing Ground delivers both nerve-shredding suspense and gut-punching realism.
“Killing Ground” hits theaters and On Demand on July 21st.