The genius of James Cullen Bressack’s stories is his effectiveness of placing you in THE most uncomfortable situation until you squirm. Combined with the talent of director Brandon Slagle who builds the suspense like a master, and you’ve got one hell of an uneasy journey that will keep you engaged until the closing credits roll.

So here we go…

Seeing “Inspired by true events” always makes me smile as I just know something real special is about to occur. And by special, I mean deeply depraved with some emotional turmoil mixed in. Yes, nailed it!

Abby is a young expectant mother on route to see her estranged father, Grant and reconnect over her pregnancy. It’s been a long 5 years and the tension over dinner is palpable as Abby notices his ongoing pension for booze hasn’t wavered, nor has his simplistic lifestyle. While they dance around the past, both conclude that family blood means second chances and agree to a fishing trip for father/daughter bonding time.

Of course, there’s a snowstorm brewing, but that doesn’t phase Abby or her dad who playfully discuss greasy fast food vs. salads on their drive. As they grow closer and laugh while maneuvering across the hilltop, Grant suddenly loses control and steers the car off a cliff and into a tree which impales Abby on contact. Disoriented, banged up and bleeding, both console each other as they assess their situation – seatbelts lock them in, Abby can barely move since her shoulder has been stabbed by a tree and just to make things REALLY critical…the car sits on the edge of a very high embankment. One move in the wrong direction could sent the car right off the bluff.

Once Grant painfully frees himself, he decides to trek through the mountains for help leaving his wounded daughter behind. The fear of only connecting with her dad through a walkie talkie is evident as Abby scrounges for food, tries to keep warm (very difficult to do with both car windows blown out), and take care of her unborn child as the storm moves in quickly.

During her anxiety, brave Abby talks to her baby and imagines getting out of this horrific situation intact after dad rescues them both. But the gut-wrenching scenes of dread and despair set in as we’re forced to watch her consume bait, sew up and cauterize her bloody injury, fight off a most likely rabid wolf and wait for her life to be saved in laborious time. Abby’s anguish comes to fruition when she suddenly goes into contractions on Day 2 and suffers with sheer hopelessness in the woods…in the snow…freezing…and alone.

Pinn convincingly portrays the heart-rendering love of a mother for her baby during the most excruciating circumstances in nature’s cruelty. You’ll weep for her and eventually…you’ll gasp with vomit-inducing terror at the lengths she will go to survive. And believe me…you won’t soon forget it.