The Territory

Lost for days in a thick, overgrown French forest, a group of American hikers resort to desperate measures in this compelling drama from Raoul Ruiz. At times, the film pushes the bounds of credibility, particularly in terms of just how quickly they turn savage. The film was inspired by actual events though, and even if a tad unrealistic, it works magnificently as a study of the arrogance of the American tourists and the barbarism that they champion. A memorable pre-hike scene has the group trying to convince a scared young girl to eat a pig they slaughtered, telling her that the pig was "made to be gobbled up" and she "won't ever grow up" unless she eats it. As the tourists then snap branches and uproot flowers as they begin their trek, it soon becomes clear just how little respect they have for their environment, and in a way, their demise is of their own making - though this is not an overt horror film like Colin Eggleston's 'Long Weekend'. It is a more of a surreal journey with a lot left deliciously ambiguous. The group, for instance, begin to suspect that their native guide is deliberately leading them in circles after an altercation; after dismissing him though, they only seem capable of traveling in circles when trying to walk straight. Bits and pieces are hard to watch, especially how quickly the children adapt to their new savage lifestyle, but the film leaves an indelible impression and, as per Ruiz norm, it is lusciously shot - both within and outside the forest. An early scene of a kid watching the elongated shadows of his parents on a wall is especially striking.