‘Fear will drag you deeper’
Quicksand is a 2023 Colombian survival thriller film about an American couple trapped in a rainforest pit.
Directed by Andrés Beltrán (Llanto Maldito; Bad Days) from a screenplay written by Matt Pitts (Westworld). Produced by Sean Patrick Burke, Jason Cherubini and Nicolas Reyes.
The movie stars Carolina Gaitàn, Allan Hawco, Andrés Castañeda and Sebastian Eslava.
Plot:
An American couple on the verge of divorce go to Colombia for a work conference. While on a hike through the rainforest, a storm causes them to become trapped in a pit of quicksand. Unable to move, it becomes a struggle for survival as they battle the elements of the jungle and a venomous snake, in order to escape…
Reviews:
“Overall, I’d recommend Andres Beltran’s Quicksand be viewed on a night in when you’re looking for a good drinking game. Have a shot every time something improbable or impossible happens on screen. It says a lot for a horror fan to choose to believe the paranormal and supernatural over a simple forest survival plot but there you have it.” 2 out of 5, Addicted to Media
“Spurts of tension as Sofia and Josh battle the elements of the rainforest, like an encounter with a venomous snake, are easily the highlights, complete with slithering POV shots. Quicksand isn’t a bad schlockfest, but if we don’t care much about the mice, then who cares if the cat swallows them? Grade: C + The Artful Critic
“The hunters and Las Arenas never get explored beyond setting up the plot, even as a side story incorporates them. Nor does the jungle element come through as much as it could. Instead, it’s reduced to a grim and serious marriage metaphor plot device. Even at a brisk 85-minute runtime, Quicksand often feels stretched too thin.” 2.5 out of 5, Bloody Disgusting
“As a grounded portrait of a marriage on the rocks, it’s simply too preposterous to be taken seriously; the entire movie could have been avoided if our heroes were smart enough to hop in their car instead of flee into the woods […] At the same time, it’s too dour and static to provide the over-the-top thrills you want from a movie called Quicksand.” Boston Hassle
“I could relate to the situation that the wife found herself in. The couple found a way, thru this bad situation, to rekindle and find common ground. It’s a message that all of us could learn from. Overall, I recommend this movie, though it can get intense at times.” 9 out of 10, Copifet
“Admittedly, Quicksand is small in scale, but it works well as a quick and dirty streaming movie. Honestly, it is nice to see a new film on Shudder that does not feel compelled to offer stern commentary regarding gender and sexual identity. Instead, Quicksand celebrates family ties, especially when the chips are down. Recommended for subscribers…” J.B. Spins
“I felt the director could have escalated things a bit more, crafting more tense set pieces and adding more value to a project like this. And while I found myself enjoying a great chunk of Quicksand for its suspenseful jungle survival horror moments, a part of me still felt unsatisfied once the credits arrived.” 3 out of 5, Loud & Clear
“Quicksand gets bogged down (sorry) in Josh and Sofia trashing out the reasons why their relationship failed. Much of the film resembles a bottle episode of a TV show, […] The trouble here is that we’re never given a solid motivation to root for Josh and Sofia to get back together. Neither of them is particularly likeable – Josh is smarmy while Sofia is a moaning Minnie…” The Movie Waffler
YouTube reviews:
Trailer:
Release date:
Quicksand streams on Shudder from July 14, 2023.
Technical specs:
1 hour 26 minutes
