‘We all die in the dark’
The Outwaters is a 2022 American found-footage horror film about four travellers who encounter menacing phenomena in the Mojave Desert.
Written, produced, photographed, directed, edited by and starring Robbie Banfitch.
The Fathom Films production also stars Angela Basolis, Scott Schamell, Leslie Ann Banfitch and Melissa Andrea.
Reviews:
“There’s no guessing where or even how Robbie’s journey will end, though you might reach for a barf bag once or twice along the way. While it dwells a little too long on the serene setup, washed in pastel pink and purple sunsets, the full-throttled plunge into a black and red viscera-drenched personal hell embeds itself deep into your skull and remains long after the credits.” 4/5 Bloody Disgusting
“With only marginally more of a linear narrative than Skinamarink, and only marginally more watchable as an exercise in improvisational atmosphere, The Outwaters accomplishes the impossible by making me long for the comparatively less exhausting endurance test of a formulaic haunted hospital investigation. All it takes is scissors and tape to rearrange irrelevant sequences in any order you wish and it would make no material difference to how the stream-of-consciousness storyline plays out.” 20 out of 100, Culture Crypt
“The Outwaters is too visually incoherent to be successful as a standard found-footage horror film, but what’s more frustrating is that it might very well have been successful as an experimental found footage film that simply drops the audience into the footage from memory card 3.” Cultured Vultures
“The Outwaters isn’t afraid to get weird and make you feel deeply unsettled. It’s a contender for one of the best movies of 2022 due to just that. If you think you know found footage, then you need to see The Outwaters.” 4.5/5 Dread Central
“The Outwaters is an experience you wouldn’t want to miss. It is a love-it-or-hate-it film made specifically for those who love horror films that take risks. It is an intense effort to expand the depth and possibilities of the found footage genre.” 4.5/5 Grimoire of Horror
“Yes, it’s striking and horrific, with some moments that could’ve been unforgettable under different circumstances, but it’s also hollow and meaningless, overbearing the viewer with one shock scene after another. I’ll admit though, the ending is pretty funny…” Horror Obsessive
“The direction of this film is strong, with most shots having an intentionality behind them that is lost in most films in the subgenre that rely entirely on the fact that their style is found footage and not adding much beyond that. The Outwaters is an incredibly strong found footage film that will undoubtedly find an audience in time.” 4.5/5 iHorror
“The Outwaters is by no means a movie for everyone. It’s a disorienting film that literally leaves audiences in the dark with few answers, and I’d be lying if I said it was a pleasant experience. This one is not for the faint of heart. But Banfitch has created something truly shocking with a minimalist, DIY approach…” 4/5 Killer Horror Critic
“The Outwaters is as bare-bones as a found footage movie can be, right up until it fully descends into what can only be described as a terrifying trip to hell […] Banfitch’s movie will be divisive in that it takes a while to get to the goods. Those who key into its rhythms and embrace the journey, however, are in for a rarified experience.” The Pitch
“Before the striking and unsettling visuals kick in, Banfitch does a great job of introducing viewers to the group of friends, all of whom are likable characters, which makes their fate all the harder to watch unfold. The Outwaters is a trippy excursion into a hellish world, and one that will likely linger in viewers’ minds for some time afterwards.” 3.5 out of 5 The Scariest Things
“Much of the film takes place in total darkness, relying on sound to convey the horror. There are scenes that are literally pitch black with nothing but screams on the soundtrack. Banfitch is clever with his cinematography, often lighting his scenes with nothing but a small flashlight. It’s scary and sets the disorienting tone, but is overdone.” Screen Zealots
“The ominous imagery unnerves and only escalates with disorienting cuts, impressive editing, and camera tricks, further throwing us off balance […] With nerve-shredding sound design, striking imagery, and assured direction from Banfitch, The Outwaters is a masterful found footage death dream.” 5/5 Slay Away
“The Outwaters boasts a borderline incoherent finale (intentionally so) that runs the gamut from deeply unsettling to completely unexplainable making for a blissfully disorienting blend of found footage, cosmic horror, and Tremors-esque creature feature that feels wholly original.” 3.5/5 Void Video
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