It's one of those movies that stuck with me from childhood because it was truly frightening! The story follows several people from the city who choose to canoe down the Cahulawassee river before it’s flooded to create a large reservoir. When the four men arrive at the remote town where their trip begins, they encounter a community seemingly untouched by modern advancements and one with a limited gene pool, noticeably…

Looking back, it’s easy to see why this movie felt particularly relevant when it was first released. Back in 1972, stories about nature and environmental concerns held a certain appeal. While widespread environmentalism hadn't fully taken hold yet, it coincided with the height of the hippie movement, which championed a closer relationship between people and the natural world. The film centers on four men from the cit…

I'm still disturbed by that banjo sequence, even now. Forget about the New Beaty situation. It’s a really good film.

Brutal, Beautiful and Brilliant. Four friends from Atlanta—Lewis (Burt Reynolds), Ed (John Voight), Bobby (Ned Beatty), and Drew (Ronny Cox)—decide to canoe down the Cahulawassee River in the Georgia wilderness. They view this as a way to prove their masculinity while also wanting to experience the area before it’s submerged under water due to the construction of a dam and lake. However, the dangers of nature aren…

I was genuinely startled by how impressive and frightening this turned out to be. I encountered the novel a long time ago, likely around 1988, as part of my introductory university course while I was working toward my initial degree. I’m not particularly fond of Burt Reynolds' performances, and with only two other films by Boorman under my belt—namely 'Point Blank,' which is excellent, and 'Exorcist II: The Heretic,'…