We got something special this time around. We, were given early access to a screener for Pitfall, a new horror film that made its premiere at Screamfest LA on October 15.
This wasn’t just a regular viewing, either, we were also invited to interview the director and writer, James Kondelik, along with the producer, Wai Sun Cheng. That full interview is still in the works (stay tuned for that), but in the meantime, we wanted to break down our spoiler-free thoughts on the movie itself, share some behind-the-scenes nuggets, and give you a better sense of why we think this indie gem deserves a wider release.
We’ll be tossing in a few juicy soundbites from the interview here and there, little bits we thought you’d appreciate, and we’ll be posting the full convo soon. If you’re someone who’s struggled with janky audio setups, you’ll appreciate that we ran into a few hiccups ourselves during the recording. Growing pains, you know? But we made it through.
So what’s Pitfall all about? The IMDB synopsis doesn’t do it justice: a young man gets separated from his friends in the woods and falls into a 10-foot pit filled with spikes. He’s impaled and stuck, and things get worse from there. Sounds simple enough, right?
But this is one of those cases where the blurb sells the movie short. Trust us, it’s so much more layered, tense, and creepy than that.
A Killer Premise and Smart Execution
Let’s set the scene. A group of five friends, two couples and one extra buddy, head out on a three-day hike into a pretty isolated forest. Classic setup.
One of them falls into the pit. Now, that pit? It’s no accident. It’s a trap, and it turns out there’s someone lurking in those woods. Think 127 Hours meets survival horror with a splash of Rambo-style killer intensity. That’s the actual pitch James used in our interview, and honestly, it tracks.
It’s a survival film with a backwoods slasher edge, which gives it a real sense of urgency and danger that hits hard from the start.
The guy who falls into the pit? That’s Scott, played by Marshall Williams. And he spends a good chunk of the movie solo, trapped and trying to survive. That kind of role isn’t easy, acting alone for most of a film while still being believable is a challenge, and Marshall pulls it off with grit and emotion.
They actually built three different pits to make it work cinematically, which tells you how seriously they took the physicality of the film.
Meanwhile, the rest of the crew isn’t just wandering around screaming or being clueless. One thing we really appreciated was how smart the characters are. These aren’t your typical slasher-movie boneheads. They’re trying to survive, they’re thinking critically, they’re helping each other. Someone even catches a fish with a stick.
They’re prepared, and they react to things in a way that feels believable, which makes you want them to survive. That’s such a refreshing change from the usual “oh no, let’s split up” nonsense.
And speaking of survival, yes, there’s a killer. He’s brutal, smart, and exudes that weathered Rambo-meets-sociopath energy. That twist is what elevates the movie into real slasher territory, even though it still feels grounded in survival realism.
The Cast Delivers, Hard
Let’s talk cast. Pitfall brings together a group that really gels on screen. Along with Marshall Williams, you’ve got Richard Harmon (who just popped up in Final Destination: Bloodlines), Alexandra Essoe (a Mike Flanagan regular), Brenda Levalin, Claire Robbins, and UFC champ turned actor Randy Couture.
Now, if you’re like Meaghan and don’t know Couture from the octagon, that’s okay. Because he brings serious presence here, even if you didn’t realize he was a heavyweight champ.
The man’s 62 and still doing intense physical scenes in the mud and rain like it’s no big deal. During our interview, James couldn’t stop singing his praises.
Not only was he focused on safety and fight choreography, he was literally giving cast members massages between takes and adjusting their backs, yes, he’s also a licensed chiropractor. Like, come on. Who else is breaking necks on screen and fixing them off screen?
But what really stands out is the chemistry. The group feels like actual friends. They talk like people who know each other. Nothing felt forced or overly scripted. That’s partially because James allowed for ad-libs and rewrites on the fly, especially when the weather got in the way.
There’s one pivotal scene that wasn’t even supposed to be shot in the rain, but they leaned into it, adjusted the script, and rolled with the mood. It paid off, the scene works better because of the weather. That flexibility helped keep the performances natural and grounded.
Kill Count, Practical Effects, and Gore Galore
So, this is a horror movie. You want kills, you want blood, you want to feel your stomach twist. And Pitfall doesn’t disappoint, even though it’s a relatively small-scale movie, the kills land hard. They’re intense, they’re creative, and the practical effects are straight-up impressive.
The film doesn’t rely on cheap CGI. Everything looks real and painful. And there’s a reason for that: the effects team behind this also worked on Final Destination: Bloodlines.
So yeah, they know what they’re doing. According to Wai Sun Cheng, they pulled in a team with serious credentials, folks who worked on massive projects and brought that expertise to this lean, mean horror machine.
You’ll feel the crunch of bones. You’ll squirm. There’s one particular scene we’re not going to spoil, but let’s just say it had us grimacing in the best way. These kills are spaced out well, never overused, but when they hit, they hit hard.
Heart, Hustle, and the Long Road to Release
The story behind Pitfall is just as compelling as the film itself. James came up with the idea thirteen years ago. Thirteen! He was told to write something contained and budget-friendly, and he thought, “What about a guy in a hole?”
At first, it sounded like the simplest concept. Turns out, it was the exact opposite. Still, he kept pushing the idea and pitching it until it finally clicked.
Once the ball started rolling, things moved fast. The movie was shot on location in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and they wrapped things up quickly. Between shooting, editing, and getting it ready for Screamfest, the timeline was tight, but the final product looks anything but rushed.
We could see the passion from everyone involved. James and Wai weren’t just promoting a movie. They care about this project. They believed in it from day one, and it shows. You can feel it in the performances, the details, and even the way they talked with us about the whole process.
It’s that kind of energy that makes you want to root for a film.
Final Thoughts: Watch This One
So here’s the deal. If you’re in the New Orleans area in November, Pitfall is making its way to Screamfest NOLA. If you can catch it, do it. And if you’re one of those cool people at Shudder or IFC Films reading this, pick it up. Distribute it. Let more horror fans see this thing.
We’re already planning to rewatch it ourselves when we get the chance. It’s the kind of movie that benefits from a second viewing, especially once you know the beats and can focus on the smaller details and performances.
This experience was such a blast. Watching Pitfall, getting to interview the minds behind it, and seeing firsthand the love and effort poured into it reminded us why we love horror.
It’s not always about the budget or the jump scares. Sometimes it’s about smart characters, gritty locations, a killer idea, and the grind to bring it all to life.
Keep an eye out for the full interview episode soon. And while you’re waiting, check out the movie’s socials, they’ve got great stills, trailers, and a couple of poster versions we couldn’t decide between. Personally, we’re partial to the knife-hand one. It just screams horror energy.