Montana Film Fest Review: ‘Among Mountain Crags’ is a promising thriller from newcomers
Although Among Mountain Crags was more than likely conceived before the #MeToo Movement had its moment, it seems like a thriller for our times and with a lot to say about feminism, the patriarchy, and sexual abuse/assault. At the same time, it’s a classic suspense tale that leans on the spooky mood and ambiance of Appalachia while clocking in at just over an hour.
The movie is centered on Coralie Whitt, a young woman living ostracized and isolated in a small mining town, trapped by her past as well as by her lack of options. All that changes when a stranger named Willie Lowe comes to town, seduces her, and convinces her to leave town with him on foot, through the woods. What at first seems romantic, if not a bit odd, quickly turns sinister and escalates as Lowe reveals his true nature and their pasts collide.
In many ways, the relationship between Whitt and Lowe is a familiar one to anyone familiar with the patterns of abusive relationships: It’s filled with gas lighting, terrifying mood swings, control, and isolation. Except in Mountain Crags, everything is dealt out in the formula of a horror movie, and the audience feels as trapped as Whitt as the situation becomes more and more desperate. Here, the most affecting scenes are grisly murders, but a well-done depiction of non-consensual sex between partners. Here, the most frightening thing in the woods isn’t what’s in the darkness, but who you are sleeping next to.
The movie, which was written and produced by sisters Erin and Kyle Frederick (Erin stars in the movie and Kyle directed) is a debut feature-length film for both women, and expectedly green. Sponsored by the Independent Filmmaker Project, several aspects of the movie are rough around the edges — most notably, the acting is a bit stilted, and the writing and editing makes for confusing moments of plot reveal. At the same time, despite an outstanding score, the movie fails to capture a clear place and time and world, or to quite mold fully-formed and affecting characters past Whitt. The film was made on a shoestring, and with a very small crew, and it shows in little details, from issues with plot and world consistency (they are in the woods for at least a week, but their clothes look great and they don’t seem to be carrying much of anything) to a seeming avoidance of big scenes–at least two large moments in the story, which we won’t spoil, are skipped over altogether.
Still, most of these issues are of budget and experience and not of art. The Frederick sisters have produced a thoughtful, interesting, and scary movie, with real moments of beauty and great movie making, layered upon attentive social commentary. They are certainly two people to watch–and you can start with their first movie.
Among Mountain Crags premieres at The Roxy for the Montana Film Festival Fri., Oct. 5 at 3 PM and Sun., Oct. 7 at 5 PM, with director, cast and crew in attendance. Free. Visit montanafilmfestival.org for more info.
