Timber Falls

Stars: Josh Randall, Brianna Brown, Nick Searcy, Beth Broderick

Director: Tony Giglio

Goshdarn it, those West Virginia rednecks are at it again. City backpackers - hunky Michael (Randall) and his tasty girlfriend Sheryl (Brown) - are off to them thar mountains for a weekend of sunshine, swimming and sex.

Taking the path not recommended by the local ranger, on the advice of mountain woman Ida (Broderick), they head for Timber Falls where, after a nasty encounter with a menacing trio of locals, they manage to have sex in their tent.

In the morning, Sheryl is gone, abducted by rogue ranger Clyde (Searcy), Ida (his wife) and her brother who, guess what, is a deformed Virginia farmer wielding a double-bladed axe.

Unable to bring forth children, Clyde and Ida have saved their failed foetuses in jars and now, as they tell the hapless couple after Michael also gets captured: 'You and your bitch-whore girlfriend will atone for your sins' - in the form of providing the rednecks with a baby after undergoing a primitive marriage ceremony (not to mention torture).

All this is quite exciting at times, thanks to Giglio's frenetic direction, but so ludicrous in concept, and cliched in attitudes, that a preview audience laughed happily throughout. It also doesn't know how to end its story, resulting in an ultra-foolish final scene that makes no sense at all.

David Quinlan

USA 2007. UK Distributor: Tribal Films. Colour by Kodak.
101 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 18.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 3, Drugs 1, Swearing 3.

Review date: 18 May 2008