If Final Destination had gone backpacking: I Didn't Come Here to Die (2010)

I Didn't Come Here to Die (2010)
rating: ****
starring: Indiana Adams, Kurt Cole and Madi Goff

Looking at the packaging made for this movie, I wouldn't blame you if you think you're up against another run-in-the-mill backwoods slasher flick. Whether it's a ploy to lure us gorehounds closer to this movie or not, I would really suggest you guys to give this title the benefit of a doubt, and try it. Cuz it's a lot cleverly written than your average slasher movie.

After opening with a cop inspecting a dead guy in the middle of the road, and get attacked by an eyeless gal, we suddenly shift our attention to six teenage volunteers workers driving to the woods for some hard labor preparing for a campsite, expecting a long day cutting off branches and digging pot holes; so as the day strolls by to night, half of the teens went ahead and sneaked out later that evening for a well-deserved whiskey break, while two others have sex. But when a by-the-book misfit figured that if she can't beat them and she join them, it turns out that she can't handle her liquor and threw a fit at the rest for not taking their volunteer work seriously. (Or something like that) She then stumbles and literally poked her eye out on a branch.

This leads to the head volunteer taking this unlucky gal to a nearby hospital, leaving the mysterious quiet guy she's having sex with earlier in charge. As morning came, they went ahead and go accordingly as scheduled. But as more accidents pile up, and brash decisions begin to cost the life of others, volunteer work does indeed had gone killer...

Think mixing Final Destination with the sensibilities of the underrated Israeli "slasher" Rabies. Throw in some good gore, awesome tension build and some very likable characters, IDCHTD is a good look back at low-budget indie shockers.

Taking notes from classics such as The Evil Dead or Friday the 13th, the film started steady enough for us to catch up a little about our cast, showing a little deepening to each six teens who all have something behind their flat demeanor. And to how these little development effect the story comes in gradually by the time the accidents begin to happen and taking them down one by one in an increasing pace. By then, the cheesy acting present in the beginning actually devolves scene by scene into a real gritty climax where friends turned to foes, guilt induces suicides, and overlooked dangers bites them real hard. You can actually tell something bad's gonna happen at a particular scenario, but the direction certainly knows how to built to it enough to make the impact memorable. Accomplishing all this with a small budget, which might also be restricting it to do further more.

Telling you all this, IDCHTD may not be a real slasher film per se, but it has the charms of one, making it a fun and acceptable watch for genre fans like you and me. Sure the story might be a little predictable at some parts, but it still packs its own twists and chills to keep you watching from beginning to end. If there's any flaws in this title, I might say that it might not impress everybody, due to taste and stuff (the usual), but I am standing by my words; It's well shot, engaging story, good in pacing and bloody for our delight, I'm certain we can all enjoy this one!...or I assume you will. Wherever your boat floats!

Bodycount:
1 female head sliced in half with chainsaw
1 male hanged
1 female brained with shovel, head bashed in with rock
1 male decapitated with shovel
1 male ran over by car
total: 5