Popcorn Frights 2022 review: Calls for help fall by the wayside in Christine Nyland and Terence Krey’s ‘Distress Signals’

DISTRESS SIGNALS

**World Premiere**

Synopsis: When a fall down a steep rock face separates her from her friends, Caroline finds herself stranded. Now, alone and with a dislocated shoulder, she must make her way out of the woods — and contend with how she got there. Distress Signals is the second feature film from Terence Krey and Christine Nyland, the team behind 2021 Shudder Original An Unquiet Grave

What would you do to survive all alone in the woods? Do you have enough common knowledge to rescue yourself? A visceral watch, Distress Signals takes Popcorn Frights 2022 audiences on an undoubtedly intriguing journey. The title alone plays double duty in this surprisingly nuanced film focused on survival. Distress Signals is a complete genre shift from Terence Krey and Christine Nyland‘s previous film festival hit, now streaming in Shudder, An Unquiet Grave. Equally complex, Distress Signals relies on Nyland’s ability to reel the audience into a plausible scenario. Essentially carrying this film alone is astounding. Even the most minute idiosyncrasies scream off the screen. The lack of dialogue forces you to focus on Nyland, which isn’t a challenge considering her attention to detail.

Daniel Fox‘s cinematography (particularly the nighttime scenes) combined with a triumphant score by Shaun Hettinger is something to behold. Filmmakers used the elements to their storytelling advantage. The light, the terrain, the flora, and the weather become characters in the plot. Don’t get too comfortable. The final act will flip the script into one intensely harrowing narrative.


Popcorn Frights 2022 Online Screening Info
– Available online from Thursday, August 18th – Sunday, August 21st

 

Writer/Directors: Terence Krey, Christine Nyland
Starring: Christine Nyland, Jonathon Strauss, Stephanie Hains
Runtime: 80 min


 

About Liz Whittemore

Liz grew up in northern Connecticut and was memorizing movie dialogue from Shirley Temple to A Nightmare on Elm Street at a very early age. She will watch just about any film all the way through (no matter how bad) just to prove a point. A loyal New Englander, a lover of Hollywood, and true inhabitant of The Big Apple.

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