A park ranger spends the night guarding a potential crime scene on a remote mountain trail.

Wendy (Karina Fontes) is the newby ranger on the beat at the state park. Chastised for arriving late to daily orientation she attempts to prove to co-workers Maya (Emily Althaus) and Craig (Brodie Reed) that she has what it takes by insisting on taking a more difficult patrol route. This fateful decision has deadly consequences in the new film Body at Brighton Rock from writer-director Roxanne Benjamin. While not as clever or tense as it could have been, the film is still a harrowing, consistently entertaining survival thriller.

Venturing off into the forest, it is Wendy’s job as a ranger to post reminder flyers at information boards reminding hikers to stay hydrated, to stay on the well-worn paths if inexperienced, and to look out for snakes. Yet on this day, something seems forebodingly off. Shrugging off any weird vibes and the occasional advances of fellow ranger, Davey (Martin Spanjers) Wendy slips her headphones on and trots out into the far reaches of the park. Reaching the far end of her hike Wendy spots the bloodied body of a man at the bottom of a crag. What’s worse is that (gulp) she is lost. With limited radio and cell coverage, she must stay with the body until rescuers arrive as there is evidence of a crime.

So begins the tense, vigil that stretches into the night with no foreseeable end. Help is on its way but when? How will Wendy survive the night with limited provisions, a creepy as hell corpse laying, dead, eyes open, and wildlife roaming the forest? Did we mention the creepy hunter named Red (Casey Adams)? Yes, before sunset, this creeper of a guy arrives at the remote scene wanting to investigate further and getting a little too hands-on.

Karina Fontes does an admirable job carrying the film on her own for most of the run time. She is perfectly cast as the average every-person just doing their job and being confronted with unusual circumstances. The film would not have worked if we didn’t believe in her, much less like her. We also get some nice work from Adams as Red, the mysterious man who seems to want to handle things himself.

With regards the production, there are no weak links to be pointed out. Everyone from the costuming to the art department really captures the hammy look of hiking trail chic. The goofy signs, the terrible brown uniforms in the rangers, everything is spot on.  We were also very impressed by the beautiful cinematography by Hannah Getz. Here she captures that almost sepia tone aged polaroid look giving even the darkest spots on the screen to have a golden hue.

Body at Brighton Rock is a good film, that falls just shy of greatness. Telling a story with a fixed location and a singular character Benjamin paints herself into a creative corner, forcing herself to deliver a film that will maintain interest above the minimalist constructs. To her credit, the film is never boring, but it never really seems to cross into genius. Disturbing obstacles parade toward our protagonist, but seem to come and go, lending no real mounting tension or obstacles aside from the main storyline. There is even a rather strange muddling of time and place with the almost exclusive use of 80’s music. While very stylish the choices do nothing but further confuse time and place. Issues, yes, but none of them dealbreakers.

Should you see Body at Brighton Rock? Absolutely. This is a hike worth taking with plenty of very good work to be enjoyed. Don’t expect high suspense, that is not what this film is.  Yes there are suspenseful bits, even hair-raising ones, but it seems that this movie was more about the resourceful determination of a the character than a terrifying night in the woods. Take Body at Brighton Rock on those terms and you will have a pleasant stay.