Carver from 2015 is a psychological horror film that follows a group of college students on a camping trip in the remote wilderness of Oregon. The film is directed by Emily DiPrimio and co-written by Emily and Kyle Kukshtel. The movie kicks off with a classic horror trope - a car breakdown in the middle of nowhere. Five friends - Molly (Lea Davis), Natalie (Sydney Kondruss), Brody (Mark Ryan Anderson), Daniel (Luke Jaden), and Tim (Nicholas Leali) - are headed to a weekend camping trip in the woods. Their car suddenly breaks down on a deserted road, and without cell phone reception, they are forced to push it to a nearby gas station.
At the gas station, they meet a strange man named Joseph (Alex Tordi), who offers to help them fix their car. Despite their initial reservations, they agree to follow him back to his remote cabin in the woods. Joseph claims he has all the tools necessary to fix their car and guides the group through the dense forest.
However, as the group journeys deeper into the woods, they soon realize that something is not right. Joseph's cabin is a dilapidated mess, and it becomes clear that he is entirely unprepared for fixing their car. He gradually reveals himself to be a disturbed and dangerous individual, with an obsessive fixation on carving intricate designs into human flesh.
As the group becomes more and more desperate to escape from the relentless predator, they realize that their only chance for survival is to outwit and overpower Joseph. They band together and attempt to defend themselves against his violent tendencies, working as a team to evade his traps and stay alive in the midst of an increasingly terrifying and deadly situation.
The film is a classic slasher movie with a gritty and dark tone throughout, and it's evocative of '80s movies such as Friday the 13th or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It's also worth noting that Carver is an independent movie on a low budget, which gives it a unique indie feel.
One of the standout features of the movie is its use of suspense - we know that something bad is going to happen from the beginning, but the slowly escalating intensity of the situation keeps us on the edge of our seats until the final credits.
Another noteworthy aspect of the film is the character development of the protagonists. Even though each of the college students begins as a bit of a stereotype, they eventually get fleshed out into fully realized characters, each with their own motivations and personal demons. As the story progresses and they face ever more dangerous situations, they experience growth and transformation that make them more relatable and sympathetic.
Finally, it's worth mentioning the excellent performances from the cast. Lea Davis is a standout as Molly, the female lead, effectively portraying both vulnerability and strength in equal measure. Alex Tordi is genuinely creepy and disturbing as Joseph, managing to make us feel uneasy and scared for the entire movie. Mark Ryan Anderson and Luke Jaden also give solid performances as Brody and Daniel, respectively.
Overall, Carver from 2015 is a well-executed and scary horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end. Emily DiPrimio and Kyle Kukshtel do an exceptional job with the directing, and the cast executes their roles with skill and maturity. It's a must-watch for horror movie enthusiasts looking for a self-contained and adrenaline-packed thrill ride.
Carver is a 2015 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8.
