Char Man is a 2019 American horror movie directed by Kipp Tribble. The story follows two friends, Dylan and Michael, who decide to embark on a camping trip together in the San Bernardino Mountains with an aim to reconnect and de-stress from the pressures of their everyday lives. However, the accidental discovery of an abandoned car in the woods and the creepy, unexplained noises at their campsite soon turn their weekend into a nightmare that they may never get out of.
The tale begins with Michael, a successful businessman, and Dylan, a struggling writer, who leave behind their hectic lives for a weekend of camping and hiking in the dense forests of the San Bernardino Mountains. They hope to rediscover their friendship, disconnect from their occupations and relationship problems, and experience the peace of nature. The two reach a camping spot and settle down. They chat, drink, explore and take in the surroundings.
As the night sets in, a strange howling noise echoes through the trees, which Michael dismisses as possible coyotes in the area. However, Dylan wants to investigate the howls further and what they might indicate. As they search around, they discover an abandoned car with a tarp covering its windows. Upon a closer examination, they find empty bullet casings, bloodstains, and a mysterious bag inside the car. The discovery sends their minds racing with possibilities, but also leads them to question if they are even safe.
The duo continues their hike and return to camp, only to be rattled by strange noises, movement beyond the light of their campfire, and a growing fear of danger lurking in the night. The next morning, their food bag is found ransacked, with paw prints all around which definitely belonged to a human. The bags from the car are also missing, and Dylan is convinced that someone, or something, has been stalking them from the moment they arrived.
As their tension grows, their fear is highly visualized by the appearance of the Char Man while they are recording. The Char Man is a mythical figure known to roam the San Bernardino Mountains, and the legends say that he is a burned, mutated man who attacks humans who venture into the wilderness. The Char Man makes several appearances, both physically and audibly, and the pair becomes more convinced they are in danger.
Further investigation of the bag inside the car begins to reveal that the previous owners had been camping with their three children - who had all disappeared without a trace. As the days pass, events escalate and the pair start to unravel their safety together, which leads to some heated arguments with high tensions. Meanwhile, the mysterious Char Man continues to haunt their campsite by throwing rocks and twigs at their cabin and camping area.
The movie is a horror movie with all the classic traits - the jump scares, tense and jump-worthy moments, a killer stalking in the darkness, and the grisly discovery of a tragic backstory. At the same time, it adds its own twist to it all, such as the inclusion of the Char Man and its eerie presence, which heightens the fear factor. The movie's horror elements are supported by strong performances by Kurt Ela (Dylan) and Kipp Tribble (Michael), who make the characters relatable, adding an extra layer of tension.
Overall, Char Man is an enjoyable and frightening horror movie that takes the classic horror tropes and twists them in a fresh and exciting way. The film takes audiences on a terrifying trip into the woods, where monster legends come to life and the usual rules of society vanish. This movie is a great option for anyone looking to enjoy a good scare but also feel like they've gone camping themselves.
Char Man is a 2019 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.9.
