A young woman fleeing a troubled relationship finds refuge with a friend at a lakeside cabin near Tenkiller Lake in eastern Oklahoma. What begins as an escape quickly devolves into terror when people start turning up dead. "Terror at Tenkiller" (1986) falls within the familiar "cabin-in-the-woods" slasher subgenre, but distinguishes itself with a more relaxed pace; the emphasis is on the two friends’ search for peace and quiet away from it all. The lead actresses, Stacey Logan as Leslie and Michele Merchant as Janna, are both appealing in an accessible way, as is Debbie Killian in her role as a waitress. The director pays attention to their appearances. Some have derisively labeled this “Tedium at Tenkiller,” but I find value in its status as a low-budget, non-Hollywood production that reportedly cost around $40,000. The story feels grounded in reality and allows the audience to connect with the characters because it unfolds gradually. There's a feeling of Southern friendliness present within the ordinary details of daily life, reminiscent of films like “Death Screams,” “Squirm” and “The Funhouse.” It’s akin to experiencing rural northeast Oklahoma firsthand. "Camp Cold Brook" (2018), filmed near Oklahoma City, offers a contemporary comparison. Although it may be the weakest of these types of movies, there are still aspects worth appreciating. The identity of the killer is revealed relatively early on, and he doesn’t hide behind an obvious mask. Michael Shamus Wiles is the only cast member who went on to have a consistent acting career, with roles in bigger films such as “Fight Club,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Rock Star,” “The Lords of Salem” and “Iron Man 3.” Despite being copyrighted in 1986, filming actually took place before 1983, sometime after "Friday the 13th Part 2," placing it likely in 1982 or possibly as late as the summer of 1981. The film’s runtime is 1 hour and 27 minutes, and was filmed approximately an hour's drive southeast of Tulsa at Fort Gibson Lake (including shots of the dam and Hulbert), which is located about 30 minutes northwest of Tenkiller Ferry Lake. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB