Psychotic! is a 2016 independent horror film that follows a group of friends as they embark on a camping trip in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The group consists of two couples, including the main character Matt (played by Clint Keepin) and his girlfriend Lizzie (played by Kristen Martin), as well as their friends Jack (played by Maxwell Frey) and Jen (played by Lauren Ashley Carter).
As the group starts their trip, tensions quickly rise between Matt and Lizzie, and it becomes clear that their relationship is on shaky ground. However, their personal drama takes a backseat when strange occurrences begin to happen around their campsite. They hear eerie noises in the woods, they find strange markings on trees, and a mysterious figure starts stalking them.
As the night wears on, the group begins to unravel psychologically. Matt's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and the others begin to question whether he is responsible for the strange happenings in the woods. Meanwhile, Lizzie starts to have hallucinations and visions that suggest something far more sinister is at play.
One of the strengths of Psychotic! is its use of practical effects to create a sense of dread and unease. The film's writer-directors, Maxwell Frey and Derek Gibbons, rely on old-school horror techniques like eerie sound design, shadowy cinematography, and creepy masks and costumes to create a spooky atmosphere. The film's setting in the Pine Barrens, a real-life location in southern New Jersey known for its history of ghost stories and unexplained phenomena, adds to the overall sense of unease.
Another strength of the film is its performances. All four of the lead actors are convincing in their roles, with Kristen Martin being a standout as Lizzie. Martin expertly conveys the character's descent into madness, and her scenes are some of the film's most unsettling.
One of the film's weaknesses, however, is its pacing. The first half of the film feels slow and meandering, with lots of scenes of the characters bickering and little payoff in terms of scares or suspense. The film takes a while to really ramp up the horror, and some viewers may lose interest before the action really gets going.
Overall, Psychotic! is a solid indie horror film that will appeal to fans of old-school horror movies. While it's not without its flaws, the film's strong performances and spooky atmosphere make it an effective and unsettling watch.
Psychotic! is a 2016 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.1.
