It's genuinely difficult to get high camp right on film, particularly when working within horror or science fiction—it demands careful control over the pace, maintaining a consistent delivery of wry, macabre humor interspersed with story-advancing segments that don’t linger too long. Director Dan Allen’s fourth feature doesn’t quite manage this consistently, though; it's a twisted and sinister reimagining of Felix Salten’s 1923 novel about a motherless deer struggling to survive in the forest. The story follows a divorced mother (Roxanne McKee) and her thirteen-year-old son on their way to visit her family after her ex-husband (Adrian Relph) abruptly breaks his promise to spend time with his child. Their journey is disrupted when their vehicle is attacked by a ferocious, mutated stag that resembles something from the “Jurassic Park/Jurassic World” franchise but features noticeably cheaper special effects—though it does sport a remarkably stylish set of hooves reminiscent of the Rolling Stones’ *Tattoo You* LP (1981). The creature doesn't just target the mother and son; it also goes after their relatives, including the family matriarch (Nicola Wright), who suffers from dementia and possesses an unusual, unexplained psychic connection to Bambi. This situation becomes more complicated with the arrival of apparent bounty hunters tasked with capturing or killing the stag, as well as other mutated animals, like a pack of rabbits whose carnivorous habits are even more extreme than the bunny in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975). The reasons behind this hunt aren’t revealed until much later in the film—after an extended narrative lull—but they do provide some justification for the story's events and Bambi’s anger, leading to a final act that helps redeem earlier shortcomings. While the campy elements are well-executed, there simply aren’t enough of them, and they feel somewhat disjointed, at least initially, as if the scenes in between serve mostly to pad out the runtime. The plot also suffers from predictability; it's often easy to anticipate who will die and when, and who will ultimately survive. I was also taken aback by the frequent use of profanity throughout the script, which occasionally rivals “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013), especially considering the presence of younger characters. These issues are somewhat softened by several surprisingly poignant moments that provide a welcome contrast to the graphic—though generally appropriate—sensuality, often presented in vibrant and playfully chaotic ways (remember those rabbits). Those who appreciate horror with a dark comedic edge will likely enjoy this production from the creators of “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey,” though you might still find yourself wanting more, especially given its relatively short 1:21:00 length. Ultimately, you may well sigh and exclaim, "Deer me!"

Source on TMDB