We all know the classic stories, whether it be something from ancient mythology or a recent franchise. There’s a certain satisfaction in sitting down with popcorn and an understanding of what’s likely to come. You can tell from the outset of The Welder, who the hero is and who the villain – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t potential for surprise. Well told stories are just as enjoyable even if there aren’t brand-new narrative arcs or twists and can evoke feelings of nostalgia for familiar characters or situations. It’s up to the filmmakers to make even the simplest storytelling into a riveting experience.

Roe (Roe Dunkley) and Eliza (Camila Rodriguez) are a young couple working through some challenging time as Eliza suffers from sleep walking and some past trauma. In a effort to help her, Roe decides that a weekend trip to a secluded ranch is just what the doctor ordered. What starts out as a relaxing time, becomes awkward and strained as they meet William Godwin, the owner of the ranch. Soon things escalate as racism and desperation come to the forefront and their lives are threatened.

The greatest movies can fall flat if the actors aren’t able to carry it. Eliza does great as the lead. As former military medic still dealing with trauma, she comes off as vulnerable while still being capable. Even if she does trip in the woods while running away. On the flip side we have William Godwin (Vincent De Paul). From his first moment on screen, you know something isn’t right. The he carries at unease throughout the film. The rest of the small cast tread water in their roles. None stand out as bad or anything like that. They just don’t carry the same weight as Eliza and William. This is more due to the writing then the acting.

One area that The Welder really faltered on was the editing. It felt like entire scenes were taken out without rhyme or reason. It got so bad that I had to check timestamps to make sure that I didn’t accidentally skip something. I don’t know if they were trying to trim down the runtime or something but changing scenes midsentence can make for a rough viewing experience. The video and the sound were well done. And the practical effects were better than I was expecting.

The Welder doesn’t shy away from subject matter that affects a lot of people in society. The underlying themes of racism, PTSD, grief and desperation are here to contribute something to the story. It’s a shame that those themes aren’t explored more in depth. Have these been seen before in horror? Absolutely. But these are real conversations that need to be had. The story presented here isn’t new, nor told in a groundbreaking way, it is a solid telling though. The two strong leads and good effects are only held back by the shoddy editing and a feeling of been there done that.