“There’s nothing you can do for him now.”
This backwoods romp through the sticks filled with some pretty heinous-looking creatures is exactly what has been missing in the independent film community.
A Hard Place, director J. Horton’s crime thriller turned apocalyptic showdown, is a whole lot of fun. It’s exactly what is needed this summer as the temperature rises and so too do the monthly bills. This is a creative spin on some old Hatfield and McCoys type of feud as some criminals - looking for a safe place to lie low for a while - stumble upon a backwoods family feud . . . with a whole lot of creatures involved.
Horton is no stranger to doing independent films right and, thankfully, he keeps the gore practical, delivering some great moments of splatterific horror - thanks to Robert Bravo’s creativity - as moss covered tree people come to life and start chomping on the flesh of the criminals, who are anything but fun loving.
A Hard Place features a cast of genre titans, including Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp, Terrifier 2), Lynn Lowry (Shivers, The Crazies), Sadie Katz (Wrong Turn 6, The Beast Inside), Rachel Amanda Bryant (Craving), Kevin Caliber ("Future Man"), Ashley Undercuffler (Craving, 16 Bits), and Bai Ling (The Crow).
With some ambitious writing from Horton and Michael J. Epstein, A Hard Place kicks off with a nice bit at the drive-in - where an old school zombie flick plays - and masterfully blends into the events of the actual film. There’s a lot of wonderful bits sprinkled throughout this heist gone wrong flick, too. It’s no wonder that Horton is excited by his latest offering: it absolutely crushes with its carnage and its characterization.
With some cool lensing from cinematographer Kody Newton and clever edits from Brook Hubbs, A Hard Place delivers some nasty dark humor and a whole lot of creativity, making this release a horror-filled funhouse that few should ignore. Everything works here to create a memorable experience as some plant people surface for their tasty revenge.
Following a months-long theatrical rollout, A Hard Place arrives on May 27, 2025 on Digital VOD, including Apple TV and Prime Video.
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 88 mins
Director: J, Horton
Writer: Michael Epstein
Cast: Felissa Rose; Lynn Lowry; Rachel Amanda Bryant
Genre: Horror
Tagline: Don't Get Caught
Memorable Movie Quote: "Don't you worry now. I still got me one good arm to love you with!"
Distributor:
Official Site:
Release Date: May 27, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: In a snow-covered forest, a group of criminals find themselves caught in the middle of an ancient feud between the monsters that roam the day and the creatures that rule the night.
