I chose this movie, because Kate Bosworth was awesome in Blue Crush. That has nothing to do with horror films (and I wasn’t a fan of Straw Dogs), but I went for it anyway. She’s so charming.

Summary

Sarah (Kate Bosworth) convinces her two estranged friends, Abby (Kate Aselton) and Lou (Lake Bell), to go on a camping trip to an island they played on as kids. Things go wrong when they run into three soldiers just returned from Iraq. When one attempts to rape Abby, she accidentally kills him, leading the other two to seek revenge.

Where It Went Right

• The acting is top-notch. The interactions between the three friends was perfect. It helped me know and love them before things went haywire.
• The ending is strong too.
• It challenges how people define rape.

Where It Went Wrong

As someone with friends in the military, I had a personal problem with how the soldiers were portrayed for two reasons. First, on the outside chance a situation like this actually happened, there’s is basically no way the women would win against military training. Second, I have strong doubts that two weeks after returning from Iraq some soldiers would choose to go hunting (loud noises are a little rough after you’ve been in a war zone). I have further doubts that they would use their training immorally. Could it happen? Sure, but I prefer movies that challenge stereotypes. I love the feminist angle on this movie, but I didn’t like how it came at the expense of another demographic.

Verdict: WATCH if what I just shared doesn’t bother you or DON’T if it does

What to Watch Instead

• We Are What We Are
• The Strangers
• All the Boys Love Mandy Lane
• The Last House on the Left (2009)
• Resident Evil
• The Blair Witch Project
• Scream
• The Descent