What becomes of individuals who disappear within isolated National Parks? A brother and sister, portrayed by Hattie Smith and Zac Titus, venture into a National Park with some companions to locate their missing sibling in the Far West—and increasingly odd occurrences begin. Do any of them manage to return safely? "The Axiom," released in 2018, fundamentally operates as a cabin-in-the-woods story, but its adversary isn't your typical villain—not a person wearing a mask and wielding a blade or even Sasquatch. That earns it credit for originality and aspiration, and the filmmaking is generally well done, especially considering it’s an independent production. The nature photography and musical score stand out as particularly impressive examples of quality work. Some might criticize the performances, but I thought they were believable, especially given that the actors aren't widely known. It thankfully avoids any social messaging. Hattie Smith is reason enough to see it; she’s captivating as the lead character, frequently appearing in shorts. Nicole Dambro, with her brunette hair, also has a certain charm as Darcy. The film surpasses weaker movies like “Monsters in the Woods” and proves better than "The Legend of Bloody Jack" and “Don’t Blink,” though it doesn't quite reach the impact of films such as “Donner Pass” or “Wendigo” (2001). I would place its quality level alongside “Primal Rage.” Those specific movies came to mind because there are elements that recall them. The concepts explored are intriguing, but they aren’t explained enough. The audience is left feeling unfulfilled due to too many unanswered questions, which I'm holding back on so as not to diminish the experience of watching it. Its runtime is 1 hour and 38 minutes, and filming took place in Idyllwild, a two-hour drive east of Los Angeles and an hour southwest of Palm Springs, situated in the high country. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB