Devil`s Pass - DVD

Content: In February 1959, nine young people died under mysterious circumstances in the northern Urals on the so-called Mountain of the Dead. Although many questions still remained unanswered, such as why their clothes had radioactive contamination, the file was closed by the Soviet authorities of the time and the whole thing was classified as an accident caused by an act of God. For up-and-coming filmmakers Holly King (Holly Goss) and Jensen Day (Matt Stokoe), the story is the perfect material for a documentary project. Together with attractive sound engineer Denise (Gemma Atkinson) and two mountain guides Andy (Ryan Hawley) and J.P. (Luke Albright), they travel to Russia to follow the route of the nine victims and find out their secret. But shortly after setting out, the five young people disappear without a trace. When their footage is discovered, the terrible mystery they have been on the trail of is revealed...

Devil`s Pass is another representative in the never-ending flood of found footage films. The dramaturgical structure is already very reminiscent of the mother of all found footage horror films, the Blair Witch Project. At least the film, which is based on true events, could win a director in Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger), who knows his craft despite some commercial flops. And this is noticeable in two positive ways: on the one hand, the handheld camera shake so popular in this subgenre is kept within tolerable limits. On the other hand, Harlin knows well how to build up a decent tension even from this not exactly new starting situation.

The film, shot in Russia, offers besides some very atmospheric images also an extremely threatening, charged basic atmosphere, which increases more and more until the dramaturgical climax. Admittedly, the protagonists are all rather one-dimensional decals and the dialogues are not necessarily award-worthy. But Harlin still teases the best possible out of the weaknesses of the script and the actors. The result is good found footage horror beyond the currently so popular Paranormal Activity track.

Towards the end, the story takes a rather unexpected course. However, as a viewer you have to get involved with this twist first. Only who succeeds in doing so, will have a lot of fun with the last minutes and will be happy to forgive the film for its minor hangs. Surely, Renny Harlin doesn't reinvent the wheel here. Especially in the first third he sticks too closely to the dramaturgical structure of The Blair Witch Project. Nevertheless, his contribution to the found footage subgenre has become a successful and in places very exciting film that fans of this form of horror subject should definitely get to see. Worth seeing!

Picture + Sound: As usual with found footage films, there are also here again and again deliberately used stylistic devices such as sudden blurs or image disturbances and also a rather shaky optics is not uncommon. Apart from that, however, the visuals leave an absolutely positive overall impression, as does the atmospheric sound mix with its subtle but very effective surround effects. Good!

Extras: A short, but worth seeing Making of (approx. 9:25 min.) and the trailer to the film are the only additions, which are donated on the DVD.

Conclusion: Devil`s Pass is a successful representative of the found footage genre, which presents its story based on a true incident in the style of the Blair Witch Project and gives the whole thing an unexpected twist at the end. The whole thing is not really new, but those who appreciate found footage films beyond the Paranormal Activity series will be very well entertained here. The DVD presents the film in good picture and sound quality, the bonus material is scarce, but worth seeing. Overall, there is a satisfied for it: recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp