A faux documentary style film, it follows the disappearance of survivalist Gary Hinge. He had set out on a hiking expedition in the Great Basin Desert near Ruth, Nevada in late July 2017. He was reportedly headed toward a cabin he had approached on an earlier excursion.
While observing the exterior of the cabin, Gary notices a human silhouette moving towards him. He tries to flee the area, but is spotted by a being with severe physical deformities.
‘Horror in the High Desert’ Ending Explained
The ending of ‘Horror in the High Desert’ is one of the most enigmatic in found footage history. Despite its slow burn and low budget, director Dutch Marich’s mockumentary delivers a shockingly disturbing finale that nails the tension found in the genre. The film’s final act has fans pondering what exactly happened to Gary Hinge.
The film follows the mysterious disappearance of Gary Hinge, an outdoorsman who regularly hikes in Nevada’s high desert. During one of his hikes, Gary discovers a strange cabin in the middle of nowhere that gives him a feeling of impending doom and dread. He decides to share this experience with his large online following on a popular hiking blog, but he quickly receives a barrage of critical remarks. This motivates him to return to the ominous cabin and record it in an effort to prove his critics wrong.
Upon his return, Gary finds the cabin abandoned and a disfigured man who attacks him. The vengeful spirit of the victim soon appears, lured to the cabin by the glowing eyes of the film’s antagonist. A twisted game of cat and mouse ensues that ultimately ends with Gary’s gruesome demise.
Like most found footage films, ‘Horror in the High Deset’s final scene is filmed by its protagonist. The movie’s pseudo-documentary format adds a terrifying sense of realism that makes viewers feel like they are in the thick of the action. This style also gives the film a gritty and bleak tone, which accentuates its eerie atmosphere.
As the credits roll, viewers will notice a black title card that informs them one of the groups filming Hinge’s last known location was on track to reveal their findings in 2022. This is an exciting development that could lead to a sequel, which would be a welcomed addition to the found footage genre.
Despite its modest budget and inexperienced cast, the production of ‘Horror in the high Desert’ is truly remarkable. The film’s low-key approach helps to set the film apart from its modern peers, and its tense conclusion is a testament to the director’s skill. Hopefully, Marich continues to utilize his knack for unsettling storytelling in future installments of the series.
‘Horror in the High Desert’ Reactions
‘Horror in the High Desert’ is a mockumentary that uses a found footage style to tell its story. It was released in 2021, just one year after the Covid-19 pandemic sent people home and into isolation. This helped to create the sense of paranoia and fear that the film uses to create its horror. It also means that the film has a unique feel to it that makes people question its authenticity.
The film follows the search for Gary Hinge, an outdoor enthusiast who disappeared in the Nevada high desert. His disappearance has been linked to several mysterious incidents in the area. The film follows his sister’s attempts to find him and uncover the truth behind his disappearance. The film is a mix of talking heads interviews, drone footage, and fictional found footage. It is a unique style that allows the audience to feel immersed in the story and experience it like they would be watching a documentary.
Unlike some found footage films, Horror in the High Desert relies more on building tension than jump scares. The eerie foreshadowing and the droning music create a sense of unease that makes it difficult to look away from the screen. The filmmakers use the camera’s night vision function to make ordinary objects appear menacing.
At first, the film seems to be a genuine documentary about the search for Gary Hinge. However, it quickly degenerates into a mockumentary and then back again into found footage. The film’s ambiguous ending leaves questions unanswered, which gives the audience something to think about after the movie is over.
The ending of ‘Horror in the High desert’ is upsetting and disturbing. The fact that Gary is not found is not only shocking, but it also reveals that the filmmakers knew about his disappearance. It raises the question of why they chose to include this information in the movie.
Despite its disturbing nature, the film is a compelling and terrifying tale. It is well-written and uses its found footage format to create a creepy atmosphere. It is a great choice for anyone who enjoys found footage movies and wants to see a new twist on an old formula.
‘Horror in the High Desert’ Rating
Three years ago outdoors and survival enthusiast Gary Hinge went missing in the high desert of Nevada. Despite a months-long search, his remains were never found. Now a documentary crew has caught up with his family and friends in the hopes of uncovering new information on his disappearance. But as the film progresses, it becomes clear that the crew may have more to hide than they let on.
Dutch Marich’s pseudo-documentary features a small cast, basic editing, and inconsequential typos that sell its indie “documentary” aura. However, the movie’s slow-burn plot, long stretches of intimidating emptiness, and handheld camera style work together to create an atmosphere that is both real and terrifying. The fact that the story is based on a true event only adds to its eeriness.
While the movie’s story is not entirely factual, it is influenced by a true missing persons case in which a man named Kenny Veach disappeared while hiking in the same area. The similarities between Veach’s case and the one in Horror in the High Desert are not hard to miss. While Marich’s movie does not explicitly cite the case as its inspiration, it is certainly evident that it is based on the same event.
Unlike other modern horror films that focus on influencers and their relationship with brands, Horror in the High Desert is a film about an ordinary person who was taken by something unexplained. It is easy to empathize with Gary, whose plight feels both personal and universal. His friends and family also feel a deep sense of loss as they struggle to come to terms with his disappearance.
As the movie progresses, the tension steadily ratchets up. The camera’s shake and the fading sound quality of the narrator’s voice amplify the feeling of disorientation and impending doom. Marich also does a great job of dropping small hints that increase the audience’s anticipation for the big reveal.
While the endgame does not quite live up to the audience’s expectations, the final showdown is still a thrilling ride. While found-footage movies are not as in vogue as they once were, this low-budget production proves that the genre can still be effective when done well.
‘Horror in the High Desert’ Recommendations
Director Dutch Marich shook found footage fans in 2021 with his film Horror in the High Desert, a pseudo-documentary about outdoor enthusiast and survivalist Gary Hinge’s mysterious disappearance. The film combines fictional talking head interviews, beautiful landscapes footage, and the found footage narrative style to create a nail-biting thriller that proves there’s still life left in the genre.
Like many found footage movies, ‘Horror in the High Desert’ starts off slow, as we get to know Gary and see some of his beautiful hiking footage. Then, it begins to get more and more interesting as we learn more about his disappearance. Eventually, Gary gets to a cabin in the middle of nowhere where he has an experience that causes him to flee from the area. But then, he decides to go back and find out what happened.
As we continue to follow Gary, the movie builds suspense as he becomes increasingly more concerned about his safety. Eventually, his fear reaches a breaking point and he is forced to make an impossible decision that could cost him his life. Marich does an excellent job of building tension through his use of lighting, camera angle, and sound. He also does a good job of dropping small reveals that build anticipation for the ultimate reveal. The climax is well-done and leaves viewers feeling satisfied.
While the ending is a bit underwhelming, it’s still a great example of found footage horror at its best. It is very easy to get lost in the stunning landscapes and compelling talking heads of ‘Horror in the High desert’, and the movie does a good job of balancing its two main storylines. However, the film’s final revelation is not as satisfying as it could have been, but it does still deliver a surprising twist that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.
‘Horror in the High High Desert’ is a great indie film that should be seen by found footage fans. It has a slow burn with a great cast and some creepy scenery. The film also has a very realistic and shocking final scene that will surprise and shock viewers.
