Slash/Back (2022) User Reviews

Well done, simple, but very enjoyable Creature Feature, with a nice native setting...

[lathe-of-heaven · 7/10 · 2 July 2022]

I felt that the movie was rather well done. I'm surprised at some of the negative comments here about the story and acting. The acting, especially since we are basically talking about an all teen cast, were quite good. Very believable and genuine, not at all like many of the young people (or not so young) in many US Horror films today where they come across as very self-aware with an artificial 'Hipness'. Not here at all. We can really place ourselves squarely in the place of these young girls and what they have to deal with.

The settings and photography are beautiful of course. And, I thought it was also well done how they integrated how the young people feel growing up in an area like that. It was amusing too that right in the middle of dealing with these dangerous aliens, arguments would erupt about who likes who and other such things, just exactly how you would imagine it would occur among girls of that age. It adds a nice, enjoyable genuineness to the performances.

I thought the monsters were great. They did an excellent job creating some pretty damn creepy aliens that I felt were pretty effective. So, you basically had a nice, Retro young people's Horror film with the acting, dialog, and interactions giving it an enjoyable realistic feel. FAR from the contrivances of many of the young people as portrayed in a lot of today's 'Modern Horror'

I think the movie was quite good and entertaining. It was well made and acted and accomplished exactly what it was supposed to do. One needs to keep in mind the context of this film, it's fairly basic story, and it's genuine native setting, in order to appreciate it. If you are looking for all out in your face action and extreme violence like many Horror movies today, then you likely would be disappointed like some of the reviewers here.

Again, I know I've mentioned this numerous times in my reviews here, but I REALLY wish people would limit their reviews to the quality of the filmmaking and how well it is done. Rather than, 'Oh I thought it was boring and stupid' and give it a low rating. If it isn't your particular type of Horror movie, then fine, but I strongly feel a person honestly shouldn't come here and give a film a low rating just because THEY didn't like it. There are a lot of films that I really don't like, but I would admit that they are done well and the people who like those particular types of Horror movies will appreciate them. So, I don't come here and give those kinds of films low ratings just because they didn't happen to be the type of movie that I liked. That doesn't truly help those who may like this type of film and want to know if it is a good one.

Anyway, sorry to go on... 😊 I just honestly don't see any valid reason to trash this movie when it is clearly well made and well presented. Like I mentioned, if you like the premise and the setting and the type of film that this is, and you appreciate movies that are made well and are entertaining, then there is a good chance that you may enjoy this one.

Interesting little creature feature!

[maverickcowboy · 7/10 · 4 July 2022]

Congratulations to the people of Pangnirtung, Nunavut. It is nice to see something come out from this area and the residents way of life. This was an interesting little creature feature movie. In a way, it reminded me of THE THING. Too bad, there wasn't a bit more of a budget which would have given it a bit more potential, but I enjoyed it. Some flaws to the storyline but kept me entertained. Kudos to all involved in this Canadian production.

Horror for Kids

[voyou-703-655350 · 6/10 · 10 July 2022]

...Or for their grandparents ? Not sure. It's a mix of yucky and adorable.

Low budget FX, amateurish acting, and loose ends to the story on one hand.

Originality, spectacular scenery, and a natural feel to the dialogue and village life on the other hand.

What matters in the end is that it's entertaining, amusing in places, immersive, and makes you care for the protagonists.

Bonus points for everything happening in broad day light. That's refreshing.

Enjoyable!

[jezzzmim · 7/10 · 23 November 2022]

I found this movie on Shudder and am glad I gave it a go. Being a horror fan, I found the plot summary to be intriguing though it didn't do the movie justice. Rather than using their horror movie knowledge there girls proved to be resourceful and relied on their cultural and environmental knowledge. Though not all the acting was great, it was well done by the younger cast and juxtaposed reality with sci fi. The mindless scrolling on the gram vs alien invasion; navigating friendship and crushes while saving their town. Teamed with the great sound of Inuk throat singing, I found this movie to be quite the little gem. 👏

A decent slice of life meets aliens movie.

[lord-blade · 7/10 · 21 September 2022]

Slash/Back is quite unique. Not only in being a movie that gives people a good view of life in remote Native towns, but also as an interesting mix of aliens and teen drama.

Honestly, it's mostly about the girls, dealing with being in a small town in the middle of nowhere. It came off as very believable and relatable. Not the typical pampered teens with perfect sitcom situations that most such movies have. This felt very authentic, and anyone who remembers their youth should remember what these girls are going through.

The actresses do a decent job. They're not great, but they have their moments. They're honestly what you'd expect from young teens who haven't been raised in Hollywood. It's more like a well done high school production much of the time.

The special effects are decent for a low budget movie. Much better than the typical made for TV sci-fi movies do. And it's all shot during the day, so none of that blurry thing in the darkness nonsense most movies rely on to avoid having to actually show anything and generate jump scares.

The story is, as mentioned, mostly about the girls dealing with life in a small town, but with some aliens thrown in. Sort of an homage to the Thing in a way. They aliens aren't anything all that new, but the mix is interesting.

Overall an enjoyable watch.

Save yourself the 88 mins

[jp8391 · 3/10 · 7 February 2023]

The acting was insufferable, tempting me to fast forward to the end only to find a very anticlimactic conclusion. The Story only seemed to move forward through ridiculous choices that left behind multiple plot holes in its wake. What was the creature/ship? Why didn't the alien(s) use Peter's body? What happened to the other animal husks such as the moose and polar bear? The comparisons to the Thing and Attack the Block couldn't be more off, besides maybe copying the ideas. I normally like low budget films, and seeing some good ratings I decided to watch this, but after seeing the movie and looking more closely at the reviews i can tell most of them are bogus saying "10/10" and "such an amazing movie!". This is not an amazing movie. After wasting 88 mins of my time I give this slow paced flick a 3/10.

a "cut" above average...

[A_Different_Drummer · 6/10 · 26 June 2022]

Kinder gentler version of Stranger Things with the locale (the Canadian north) stealing the show as the uncredited lead. Canada has a history of introducing talented first-time creators (think Croenberg, Reitman) and Nyla Innuksuk maintains the tradition.

Silly but enjoyable

[tomilipin · 5/10 · 16 July 2022]

Suited for young teenagers. Kinda silly and often illogical but enjoyable. Beautiful scenery. I liked the fact that there were some indigenous Canadians involved in the making of this movie. Special effects were rather poor but acceptable. Wouldn't recommend it if you're a sci-fi fan.

Fun, well made, & in some ways a welcome step forward

[I_Ailurophile · 7/10 · 22 November 2022]

There are two matters which may serve to especially limit viewer engagement with this one. First is that the movie wears its influences on its sleeve; I don't even need to namedrop a title, because the characters discuss its plot in an early scene. Mind you, I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with such a tack, provided its not outright mimicry (pardon the phrase), and more to the point, there's certainly enough about this iteration to set it apart that any similarity shouldn't be minded. Second, the cast is filled entirely with non-professionals. Here, too, there's nothing inherently wrong with the casting; plenty of non-professional actors have performed admirably when given the opportunity. One can in no way fault the folks who have been brought on to appear herein, though I think it's safe to say that the results vary - whether the kids or the adults, some demonstrate more dexterous skills than others. Still, even at that, I deeply admire the effort to specifically craft a feature starring Inuit people and modern culture, and enlisting talent from among locals is part and parcel of that endeavor.

Putting these aside, it's worth noting that by and large 'Slash/back' is more "fun-scary" than "scary-scary." There are instances that are acutely creepy, and Michael Brooks' dynamic, varied original music also goes a long way toward crafting a sense of atmosphere. On the other hand, some stylized flourishes pointedly emphasize a playful slant that counterbalances the more earnest genre thrills. I suppose this is a good launch point to also note that in some measure the movie suffers from a flattened tone, in turn robbing it of the best invigoration and investment one would assume or hope for. This can partly be attributed to the mix between alternating vibes of major horror and cheeky romp, and partly to the acting that struggles to achieve especial heights even in the most violent moments, with perhaps other factors also involved. I think this is solidly enjoyable, but not inescapably riveting; save for that it's an exemplar of pushing for diversity in cinema, maybe it's not wholly essential.

All this may sound like a lot of criticism, but I mean only to accentuate that for as good as this is, it's not perfect. On the other hand, there is a great deal to love about 'Slash/back,' and by far I think it's much more worth watching than not. I quite like the screenplay whipped up between filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk and co-writer Ryan Cavan. Characters and dialogue are written to be as realistic as possible, as though the actors are effectively playing fictionalized versions of themselves; we get "hip" dialogue and slang that may sit better with "Generation Z" than "millenials," let alone "Generation X" or older, and sometimes uncomfortable but true to life dynamics between family and friends. I think the scene writing and narrative are rather tight as a tale is told of people in a very small coastal town fighting back against something dangerous and extraordinary; if anything, the resolution to the scenario is maybe a little too easy to achieve the best storytelling effect. The horror violence is a blast, and in my opinion all the effects both practical and digital look fantastic; one might argue that the representation of the creature(s) looks low-budget to the point of inauthenticity and kitsch, but I rather think that the appearance is perfectly in keeping with the nature of the entity on hand.

I love that 'Slash/back' was filmed on location in Pangnirtung in the far north of Canada, and while their acting abilities vary, I appreciate that the assembled cast give it their all and are clearly having a good time. It should be said, too, that this boasts strong, professional production values; one can easily imagine how quality might be sacrificed in service of the "homegrown" facet of the title, but Innuksuk demonstrates that she takes her craft seriously. And maybe that more than anything is the key with this movie: no matter how you measure it, it's probably not the best example of any constituent element, nor of its composite genres. It's engaging and entertaining, but not a total must-see. However, it's also characterized by undeniable sincerity, passion, and care from top to bottom, reinforcing the drive to make indigenous people a visible part of cinema as more than just stock characters but also never losing sight of the importance of telling a compelling story in the meanwhile. When all is said and done absolute purists may not find as much appeal here, but I otherwise think that just about anyone would likely come away from the picture having fun. You maybe don't need to go out of your way for it, but 'Slash/back' is an excellent horror flick and in some ways a noteworthy step forward for the industry, and it's well worth checking out if you have the chance.

Did the critics watch the same movie we did?

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 3/10 · 12 July 2022]

This was frustratingly unwatchable. A lot of nothing happens, and the little that does, is nonsense. There's just too much boring filler with the little substance that is convoluted to begin with. Trying to mix sci-fi with an aboriginal story, then unable to chose the primary focus for the plot, just drags out the normally comfortable 86 min runtime. The slow pacing with the dragged out and unnecessary scenes makes this film boring and impatient to watch. Add the horrible and stale dry performances, and this feels like an elementary school drama class play. I get that the young actors are inexperienced, but any decent capable director can direct his cast in between scenes, whatever their age or experience level, and Innuksuk failed to do that. The story was also riddled with plot and technical issues. Even as a low budget indie film, this was just a boring disastrous attempt at anything worthwhile to be considered entertaining. This may have worked better as a short film with more experienced filmmakers. It's a generous 3/10 from me, all for the beautiful and scenic landscapes, and some hilarious gore effects.

Reservation Dogs and Stranger Things

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 2 October 2022]

It's a small Inuit community. Five girls hanging out are attacked by a polar bear. They shoot it twice and escape. Something is wrong with the bear. It's an alien parasite.

This is a combination of Reservation Dogs and Stranger Things. It's pretty good for a small indie. I love the out-of-the-ordinary location and community. I would like more with the characters. The girls need some space to have their own individuality. It's a simple premise and it's done simply. The ending is a bit simplistic. The acting is fine for the most part especially for relative amateurs. All of that is excusable. The simple fact is that I like these characters and I like them in this simple sci-fi horror. It's fun and it's enjoyable.

Wow, but whoa...

[jimilee_1971 · 7/10 · 16 December 2022]

This film is a must see...but not for the awesome acting or the riveting storyline. This film is beautifully shot and the scenery is breathtaking. The location and authenticity of the setting make this film something to see.

The child actors, well, are not actors at all. They have no rhythm and often times sound as though they are reading right of the page in real time. They are likable and, more often than not, goofy kids that you'd expect to see on any small town street. This is a fun loving movie with a storyline that could use a little tweaking. With the beautiful surroundings and the lovable cast, it was fun and stunning to watch.

Also, bravo to the young people, even as bad as they were at acting in this film, I'd love to see them again!

Alien invasions and the Inuit culture.

[sliceoffriedgoldblog · 4/10 · 22 December 2022]

If I see one more review comparing this movie to The Thing I'm going to swallow a squid and peel my face off.

Director Nyla Innuksuk film debut Slash/Back tells a loose story of an alien invasion in a small Inuit village. A group of girls must band together to defend themselves from an alien attack. They steal one their parents' boats and go off to an island, where they are attacked by a rabid "polar bear". The situation escalates quickly and people start behaving as strangely as the polar bear.

Long story short, chaos ensues and the young girls are on the defense (and the offense at times) of a small alien invasion.

The movie is posed as a horror comedy, but many of the punchlines fall short. It may have had better success if it leaned further into horror than comedy and capitalized on it's practical effects.

Does it have it's moments? Yes. If you go into this expecting spectacular acting, special effects, and a well-rounded ending...you're going to be disappointed. These aren't the Stranger Things kids as much as you want them to be. Just enjoy the way the aliens make their victims look like skin suits and move like braindead zombies.

The importance of this movie lies in the representation of the Inuit culture. This is a widely unrepresented indigenous culture. I felt myself researching the mythological Ijiraq shape-shifter that was mentioned. Innuksuk should be proud of this...and then make a better movie.

Rating: Story and ending: 5/10 Special effects: 4/10 Practical effects: 6/10 Laughs: 1/10 Chemistry of the cast 6/10 Alien skin suits: 8/10 Polar bear alien: 8/10 Bonus points for culture: 10/10 Overall: 4.5/10.

Well Made! Needs a Sequel!

[dalerossrichardson · 7/10 · 12 October 2022]

Why a 7? Ok, hear me out. This is low budget but holds it's own against some of the Hollywood crap out there. If you are a fan of 80's horror this is a good watch. For the most part the acting by the kids is great, the "bully" cop character picking on the kids seemed a little forced. The setting/environment was real and fresh, thank you for something not in a US city. This could easily be a start to a northern Canada version of the Sarah Jane Adventures (without the adult key Character). Special effects were decent and not overdone, sometimes less is more. I disagree on the review stating if you're a sci-fi fan not to watch, if you're a sci-fi fan this is a nice hidden gem.

Just Ok

[gab-67599 · 6/10 · 25 June 2022]

I will say this, they beautify shot this movie. I loved all the young actors, I think we need more. The boy could not act though, at all. I loved Uki's vibe out of all the girls she was my favorite. I do agree with another review this could have been a good movie for kids, minus the blk blood. As an adult, I thought it was interesting. You know those sci-fi movies with the crappy CGI monster, that you can't help laughing at? This felt like a sci-fi channel original movie. Not bad but not great.

It definitely had potential...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 24 June 2022]

Initially I thought that the 2022 movie "Slash/Back" was a children's movie, given the movie's cover/poster. But since it was a movie that I hadn't already seen, and I had the opportunity to watch it, of course I opted to sit down and watch what writers Ryan Cavan and Nyla Innuksuk had to offer with "Slash/Back".

The storyline in "Slash/Back" was adequately written. However, one might say that the writers were borrowing a tad too heavily from the 1982 John Carpenter movie "The Thing". Perhaps "Slash/Back" was an homage to the movie, I don't know. Perhaps it was intended as an indirect continuation of it, I don't know? Whatever "Slash/Back" was intended to be, the storyline was adequate enough for a single viewing.

The acting performances in "Slash/Back" were good. Needless to say that I wasn't familiar with a single actress or actor on the cast list here. But I will say that the young female cast, of which the majority of the movie consisted, were actually putting on good performances and carried the movie quite nicely.

Visually then "Slash/Back" was actually surprisingly good. I mean, for a movie endeavor such as this, then they actually pulled off the special effects rather nicely. Again, there were lots of similarities to John Carpenter's "The Thing" movie.

I was actually adequately entertained by "Slash/Back", however I just feel that the pacing of the movie was a bit slow at times, and overall I feel that director Nyla Innuksuk should have added more fast paced action and intense thrills to the storyline to spruce it up, as it did come off as being mundane at times. So, a little bit too little happened throughout the course of the movie to keep it overly interesting.

My rating of "Slash/Back" lands on a five out of ten stars. This movie is definitely worth checking out.

Nice try 1st feature with a blend of THE THING, ATTACK THE BLOCK & TREMORS.

[george.schmidt · 7/10 · 24 October 2022]

SLASH/BACK (2022) **1/2 Tasiana Shirley, Nalajoss Ellsowrth, Chelse Prusky, Alexis Wolfe. Filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk's big screen debut is an ambitious but sadly lacking in scares sci-fi horror film set in the arctic fishing hamlet of Pang where its citizens discover a sudden invasion by life-sucking aliens and only a close knit circle of tweens catch on just in time to fight back. A mix of John Carpenter's The Thing (which is commented upon by its characters knowingly), Attack the Block and Tremors it has a lot of moxie from its amateur cast and blinding winterscape environs with a genuine culture clash between its native denizens. While lacking in genuine shocks there are pockets of unease like the herky-jerky 'skins' unleashed among the populace; nice try and hoping he continues to explore other stories down the line.

Had good intentions but ultimately fell short

[markwha · 5/10 · 9 November 2022]

The whole time I was watching this film I was rooting for it to be really good but unfortunately it didn't quite get there. It was entertaining, I will say that much and while the cinematography, story and scores were great, the acting on the other hand is what kept this film from becoming a gem of a cult classic at very least.

This was done with the best of intentions as all the main cast and most supporting roles were given to locals from where the film was shot on Baffin Island. It was great to see an all Inuit cast but it REALLY shows that none of these people were actors. Line after line after line fell as flat as a Saskatoon cornfield and even though there were many quirky one liners and gags, hardly anything resonates with the viewer because of the delivery. As much as these young cast members were trying, many times I was reminded of watching an awkward play during a mandatory theatre class in grade school.

They would have done themselves a huge favour if they gave the supporting roles to the locals but hired professional Inuit actors for the leads like they did in Prey - that was a spectacular show of First Nations acting talent and gave the film a genuine authentic edge not often rivalled in film.

Lastly, it's been pointed out plenty that this is basically a direct copy of The Thing - I think that was done intentionally but I'm not quite sure how that sits with me..

Worth a watch for die hard genre fans, especially if you're Canadian but I can't imagine what most of these "critics" are trying to prove with the way some of them are praising this film. It's a local triumph of a project to have the film created and released on a major platform but ultimately missed out on a very good opportunity to create something more successful and unique.

Inuk Attack the Block

[trish-67752 · 6/10 · 14 May 2023]

I enjoy horror movies from different cultures around the world. You get a little story on their history and get to dive into their culture at the same time. It's very refreshing seeing horror from around the world. One of my gripes is the font size of the subtitles. The other is it reminded me a bit too much of Attack the Block. Way too much. Even when Uki gave a little speech in the trailer it reminded me of when Moses gave a speech about why the aliens was in the ends. I wish it was a bit more creative but nonetheless I still enjoyed the movie. The CGI was giving cheap at that polar bear scene. I think a nice panned out shot would've sufficed for that moment. I enjoyed the look of the meat skin humans.

Decent Creature FX but TERRIBLE Acting!

[JJett131313 · 3/10 · 26 June 2022]

I definitely appreciate the Inuit cast and the Inuit culture shown in this movie but (i hate saying this about the young cast) the acting really doesn't do this film any favors. It also doesn't help that there's only about 20% alien/creature scenes and about 80% regular uninteresting drama scenes leaving this inexperienced, not very good cast to try to carry the film with their acting lone. It would have helped a lot if there were more alien/action scenes and FEWER scenes relying on the acting. I do feel bad to say that about these young actors though.

The creature FX were pretty good and the way the infected people moved their bodies was wonderfully creepy. The infected animal FX and CGI were surprisingly well done and VERY creepy as hell (the way the infected animals move). Unfortunately they aren't shown much nor is the main creature/space ship(?) that's shown for about 30 seconds (it looked pretty good and creepy/scary looking!).

I just liked it a lot

[paddyola · 10/10 · 31 October 2022]

Amazing scenery. Quirky cast and with funny dialogues. I really think it was a brill wee movie. Ithink the young cast were great and the integration of modern lifeon these ppl was a great focus too. All in all, it was a stupid cifi movie but never too itself too seriously. Ignore such low ratings, this was an enjoable film and quite under the radar compared to tenfold other sci fi films budgets.

I hope many of the casat can be in other movies, especially in the same stunning locations.

I hope people give the film more praise in future, and ignore the amount of negativity that Ive seen in other rerviews. It sset out what it wanted to do and suceeded.

Its ok.

[subxerogravity · 6/10 · 6 January 2023]

Being honest, it did not wow me. It reminded me a lot of Paper Girls, but I saw it like the Goonies with a horror twist (which is actually a movie called the Monster Squad, which I recommend). I'm not familiar with the culture this movie takes place in, or rather before I saw this flick so that is indeed a plus. I must admit however for me it was like a meal with little flavor. Possible that the movie was reflecting the isolation of the culture represented in the film but for me I just found it moved too slow. I like the realness of the girls in the film, but I felt more could have been done to hold my interest.

Good enough to be interesting.

Agreed, it definitely had potential..

[jayg_58 · 4/10 · 25 June 2022]

Creds for being written, directed, and acted by the residents of a small Inuit village. However, that doesn't mean it was up to any standard. The plot was a rehash, but creative; the actors - weren't, and it showed; the effects were pretty much rubber masks. I sat through the whole thing because it tried, and deserved my effort. Unless you are directly related to some part of this production, I'd have to say "pass" rather than watch it and write a bad review. If you were part of the effort, you'll enjoy seeing your friends and neighbors up on the screen.

Natives versus Carpenter's THE THING

[IrateTyrant · 7/10 · 30 November 2022]

My father visited Pangnirtung in the 80s, before I was born, and reported to the local newspaper where I live the spectacular summits they claimed as the first expeditioners to climb. I had a lot of hopes going into this movie, somewhat crushed.

The stars of the film are bad actors, English as a second language speakers, and little annoying girls. It almost meshes throughout the film for the extent of bad horror films and what I've grown to love about them. Then they get into their rant about "To Catch a Predator," and I was like "okay, shoot me already." We already understood that they were young girls, why rub everyone's face in it?

The soundtrack was hokey, extra so-ish for a genre that is known for Carpenter's family orchestras and Ennio Morricone's over-the-top exploits. It's a Native singer making weird moans and hiccups over techno. Not my cup of tea.

The cinematography was actually breathtaking, but not when focused on actors who refused to learn the language of the film, so they insisted on speaking their Inuit. I don't need close-ups of tribal face paint, I wanted more mountains and polar bears.

The plot was contrived and glib. At one point, a monster steals the gun from a pre-teen girl and never returns with it. It's a low-ball for monster scenes, which revolve around squid-like tentacles and not the spaceship which only gets a couple of screenshots.

Hey, if the movie was about white girls in Alaska I would've only given it 1 1/2 stars. But it was made by Natives, so I gave it a 8. Cool jacket, bruh.

I also want to note that I saw a different Native-made Zombie flick on Shudder, recently. "Blood Quantum." This was a step down.

Could have been much better, but...

[connelly-shawn · 6/10 · 9 January 2023]

I'm awarding this movie with a 6, but only because of the young actors who did a fantastic job with what they were given. I found it odd that their acting skills were good to very good by any standard, yet the adult actors seemed like it was their first time... perhaps they are not real actors?

Also, I love the pro-Inuk themes. Well done! There isn't nearly enough Indigenous-themed movies from Canada showcasing the rich indigenous cultures. I even applauded the jacket with the "controversial" message (kudos) to a small % of people.

But... here it is (sorry). It was a difficult movie to watch and I blame the director and writer(s). The pinnacle of painful, unrealistic acting and dialog came during the scene where the kids are trapped and they call on the police. Everything about this scene was especially hard to watch and unfortunately, at this point I FF through the remainder of the movie.

It could have been so much better. :(

I wish I could have been a consultant for this movie, and could have helped improve the dialog.