Nate Shepka is back with a new thriller, Death Among the Pines. We featured the trailer recently, and Shepka sent me a link to review the movie. So far, his movies have been interesting watches. I don’t know if I could watch Dead Before They Wake again, because of the subject matter.
However, Death Among the Pines is a good old-fashioned thriller. It stars Nicolette McKeown, Shepka, and Stephen Kerr. There are other cast members, but these are the main three.
Shepka directs and writes with his previous co-writer, Tom Jolliffe.
The Story
As I said, Death Among the Pines is an old-school thriller.
During a storm, Angela shelters a stranded stranger at her cottage. When police arrive hunting an escapee, she realizes the connection – but the situation may not be what it seems.
Kevin (Shepka) is lost in the Scottish Highlands and finds a secluded cabin. If anyone knows anything about horror movies, you stay away from the cabin! But the movie has to happen, so Keven meets Angela (McKeown).
Angela leads a quiet life and obviously doesn’t trust Kevin, as he just turns up out of the blue. There is a news report saying there is a killer on the loose, so then Donny (Kerr), a policeman, arrives. The rest of the movie is about who is the bigger danger.
The Cast
As you know, I’ve interviewed Shekpa a couple of times and stayed in touch with him. Death Among the Pines has been released on digital in the US, but is still waiting for a UK release, which is weird, since it’s a British movie.
The cast is very good, as always. As there are only three main players, they have to carry the movie, and they do it well. Everything is set mostly in one house, so you have to have characters you’re interested in and a story that unfolds well.
Death Among the Pines has both. All three characters are interesting, and you don’t know what anyone’s endgame is. I know with a movie like this, you’re always trying to second-guess who’s up to what, but I didn’t see the end coming. As we know, I’m not good at guessing where movies go; I had no idea the boat was going to sink in the Titanic. #spoiler
Even though I was trying to second-guess the movie, I got it wrong. I want to talk about the end, but I won’t spoil it, as it’s worth a watch.
Indie Movie
This is an indie movie, and it doesn’t have the ‘polished’ finish of something with more money. As I have said before, I try to watch it as though it is an indie movie. So, I give it a little leeway on the production, acting, and everything else. It’s not fair to compare this against a movie with ten times the budget.
However, this doesn’t take away from the story, which is engrossing. Indie movie makers must focus on the story and, for me, that’s all that matters. I’ve seen huge, expensive movies with zero story to keep me interested; Avatar, I’m looking at you.
Shepka and Jolliffe are solid writers and have created something in Death Among the Pines interesting and original. I say original, personally, I haven’t seen a story quite like this.
Overall
Death Among the Pines is a solid, tense thriller. You will be pining for this movie (that’s Hawk’s joke, but I said I would include it). Genuinely, Death Among the Pines is an original take with an ending that leaves you second-guessing everything. Who had the best, or worst, outcome? The final shot is a belter.
I honestly didn’t expect much from the story, but I was wrong. As the story unfolds, it gives you more and more layers.
There is an opening shot that I would have left out. You’ll see what I mean if you see it, but it kind of gives away the ending somewhat. I know you have to have a ‘hook’ at the start of a movie, but that one shot, I would have left out. It makes the ending more shocking, although shocking is a strong word; it was a good ending. Man, I want to spoil it.
I’m giving Death Among the Pines 4 out of 5. It’s a good thriller, great cast, and a well-done story. It’s worth it all for the ending.
Death Among the Pines is on digital in the US, and they are waiting for a release date in the UK.
