We step back into the time of the COVID pandemic for today’s movie review with the new release from Fuica Film Pictures and 8Cube of the thriller, Camping Trip. The sinister thriller will be available on Digital Download in the UK, USA & Canada and Australia and New Zealand from 16th August.
Camping Trip stars Leo Zola (Leonardo Fuica), Caitlin Cameron, Hannah Forest Briand and Alex Gravenstein and is directed by Leonardo and Demian Fuica, who both make their English language feature-length directorial debuts.
In the summer of 2020, two couples decide to go on a COVID-era camping trip after months of being in lockdown. The freedom of nature and the company of their best friends offer the group a rare sense of normality, but though secluded, they’re not alone. Nearby, during a botched drop-off, two goons decide to go rogue; inadvertently, implicating the campers. What started as a fun-filled vacation quickly turns into a test of loyalty and survival. Suddenly the pandemic is the least of their worries.
It feels very unnerving to step back to a time when the world came to a standstill with many fearing a virus that had almost taken over the world completely, so taking the time to watch a film that was shot during the pinnacle of the pandemic back in 2020 was something that I wasn’t too sure about, but it’s interesting to see how some filmmakers managed to bring us movies that were shot with strict health and safety procedures to be able to produce new content.
Camping Trip takes us on a sombre opening of the film with music that certainly gives us the feeling that this is a world that we don’t really want to go back to, the imagery a reminder of what we all had to go through and something that we hope we don’t go through again.
Our masked campers, Coco and Ace (Alex Gravenstein and Hannah Forest-Briant), and Enzo and Polly (Leonardo Fuica and Caitlin Cameron) are so excited to be able to be together again and head out for a fun time together, they all certainly bring to light the issues of the pandemic.
After arriving at the lake the couples do something that we all did the first chance we had back then, they all get together and hug, something that we all took for granted during the pandemic and missed so much.
After spending a great time away from the world, their world is turned upside down with a discovery that they first think will make their lives easier, but this only ensues in changing them with a somewhat brutal and wonderfully shot sequence in slow motion around a campfire that is not only shocking but something that I really didn’t see coming, but it looks so nicely done with the darkness and only the light of the roaring flames of the fire to light the scene with some great cinematography.
The movie isn’t packed with excitement, but it works under the circumstances that it was filmed. It’s certainly not going to be for everyone’s tastes and those wanting some real horror will be a little disappointed, but the thriller side of Camping Trip works.
The soundtrack from Michel DeMars certainly works for moments of shock and tension, it flows nicely with some of the cinematography from Demian Fuica and Tibo L’Amy.
Camping Trip will be available on Digital Download from 16th August.
A Pandemic and Friendship, a Lethal Combination
Movie title: Camping Trip (2021)
Movie description: In the summer of 2020, two couples decide to go on a COVID-era camping trip after months of being in lockdown. The freedom of nature and the company of their best friends offer the group a rare sense of normality, but though secluded, they're not alone.
Date published: August 2, 2022
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 45m
Director(s): Demian Fuica, Leonardo Fuica
Actor(s): Leonardo Fuica, #Caitlin Cameron, Alex Gravenstein
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
