January 23, 2025 – A camping trip in the Catskill mountains reveals strained relationships between a woman, her father, and a family friend against scenic backdrops.

First time director India Donaldson, who also wrote the screenplay, focuses the story around 17-year-old Sam (played by Lilly Collias of “Palm Trees and Power Lines”). Sam doesn't say much, but her reactions to the conversations swirling around her are the focus of the film.

Sam's father, Chris (played by James Le Gros of “Earthlings”) is one of those bossy, passive aggressive, gaslighting types that grate on the nerves. It is no surprise that he is divorced. Chris is critical of everyone, including Sam, who is smart and wise, and very competent when it comes to camping skills. The third person on this hiking trip is Chris' old friend Matt (Danny McCarthy of “Stronger”). Matt's son, Dylan, was supposed to come along on the trip, but backed out, due to Matt's recent divorce.

Chris and Matt dominate the conversations on the trip. Matt packs way too much stuff for the hike, but still manages to forget his sleeping bag. Chris insists on sorting through Matt's stuff and weeding out unneeded items, like an umbrella, but fails to notice the missing sleeping bag. Chris takes the lead on the hike and impatiently waits for the others to catch up.

Conversations around the end of day campfires, reveal Matt's emotional wounds, and Chris' focus on himself at the expense of the other two campers. There is a brief encounter with other campers who end up at the same camp spot. The scenery on the hike is beautiful. I thought it looked like the Pacific Northwest, but it wasn't.

Late in the trip, as Sam and Matt sit near the fire, Matt makes a very inappropriate comment to Sam. When she mentions this to Chris the next day, he is annoyed and shrugs it off. This really sets off Sam and she does some things that catch Chris and Matt by surprise. Her actions cause Chris and Matt to think about her, for a change.

This is a pleasant independent film with all the virtues of an independent film, and few of the drawbacks. It is well directed, with solid cinematography by Wilson Cameron and editing by Graham Mason. While the story is a bit thin, and the characters a bit under developed, it works. The acting is solid by the three main actors. This film rates a C+.

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