Back home

The Barrens

135 votes

Producing House

A man takes his family on a camping trip and becomes convinced they are being stalked by the legendary monster of the New Jersey Pine Barrens: the Jersey Devil.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 2012-09-28

Runtime: 97 mins

Director: Darren Lynn Bousman

Writer: Darren Lynn Bousman

Spoken language: English

Genres: Horror, Thriller

Original title: The Barrens

Production Companies: Voltage Pictures

Production Countries: Canada, United States of America

Reviews

W

Wuchak
**_A camping trip in New Jersey takes a horrifying turn_** A man from Philly (Stephen Moyer) takes his wife & two kids for a primitive vacation in the Pine Barrens, north of Atlantic City. Could the legend of the infamous Jersey Devil actually be true? “The Barrens” (2012) is a creature feature in the tradition of “Wendigo” (2001), “13th Child” and “Mothman” (2010). While the later Jersey Devil flick “Dark Haul” is superior, this is a more conventional take on the subject and the second best I’ve seen featuring the cryptid, keeping in mind that I’ve only seen five such movies. (“13th Child” would place third, I reckon, with Syfy schlock “Carny” and the micro-budget “The Reeds” coming in after that). I should add that bits from “The Amityville Horror” and “The Blair Witch Project” are mixed into the proceedings (such as what happens to one of the main characters). On the feminine front, Allie MacDonald is notable as daughter Sadie while Mia Kirshner is a’right as the wife. Writer/director Darren Lynn Bousman originally intended to shoot in the actual Pine Barrens, but settled for Ontario for budgetary reasons. Despite the low-budget, he was able to create a sense of spookiness in the eldritch woods, augmented by a notable score with some elements reminiscent of Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now.” Regrettably, the film starts to stumble as it switches from the second act to the final one, but there’s enough good here to recommend it to those who liked the flicks cited above. I’d watch it any day over “The Blair Witch Project.” Be sure to stick around for the post-credits scenes, which clarify the ending. It runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot at Rockwood Conservation Area and Albion Hills Conservation Park, a half hour drive west and northwest of Toronto respectively. GRADE: B
2025-03-05

R

Ruuz
An (at least fractionally) complex horror story based on a cryptid I'm familiar with, but have never seen put to screen before. Cast's not great, but not worth complaining about either. The central creep is held in reserve, almost certainly for monetary reasons, but it works in _The Barrens_' favour. I won't be revisiting this Jersey Devil horror, but I did have an okay time with it. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._
2019-03-14

J

John Chard
Devils and Deers and Bears - Oh my! Alright, lets cut to the chase here, The Barrens, a spin on The Jersey Devil legend, is no uber great movie. Chastised and frowned upon by much of the horror community, you have to wonder just what was expected of a production like this - a pic that's early notices suggested it was never going to shake the earth of the horror crowd? The Barrens is competent film making in the context of the budget afforded it. When you look at some of the films that have been churned out on the various sci-fi and horror channels out their in cable land, then this definitely has more going for it. True! There's the usual implausibilities and director and writer Darren Lynn Bousman has pacing problems, but there's good thought gone into the screenplay here, Bousman looking to add a little more to his film than merely being a "monster in the woods" shocker. There's also decent performances from the cast, which only comes to fruition when things finally go belly up in the last third. Not one to recommend with any sort of confidence, especially to the tough horror loving crowd, but if you are after a "decent" "B" type horror to view while you are pottering about doing stuff in your lounge (or basements), then it proves itself to be more viable than some Syfy channel trash that is churned out at regular intervals. 5.5/10
2014-07-15

Recommendations

The Omen
3.7

The Omen

1976-06-25

Immediately after their miscarriage, the US diplomat Robert Thorn adopts the newborn Damien without

Ring of Darkness
2.3

Ring of Darkness

1979-10-29

Once a Satanist who surrendered her soul and body to the devil himself, Carlotta Rhodes begins to re

Obscene Desire
2.5

Obscene Desire

1978-12-04

A young American woman moves to a large countryside villa with her newlywed Italian husband. Soon en

The Dark Side of the Moon
2.5

The Dark Side of the Moon

1990-05-30

It is the year 2022. A mysterious systems failure causes the crew of a spaceship to be stranded on t

Strings
0

Strings

2022-05-05

When a struggling musician makes a deal with the Devil, he experiences success and abundance the lik

Love and Rage
2.9

Love and Rage

1978-03-09

The richest merchant in XIX century Sarajevo and his fellow travelers are captured by a group of ban

Ghost Rider
2.8

Ghost Rider

2007-01-15

In order to save his dying father, young stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze sells his soul to Mephistopheles

In the Trap
2.3

In the Trap

2020-02-20

Philip, a solitary proof reader, is trapped in his apartment, too afraid to leave and tortured by an

The Ninth Gate
3.2

The Ninth Gate

1999-08-25

A rare book dealer finds himself at the heart of a string of paranormal events when he is hired to f

Angel Heart
3.6

Angel Heart

1987-03-06

A down-and-out Brooklyn detective is hired to track down a singer on an odyssey that will take him t

Exorcist: The Beginning
2.7

Exorcist: The Beginning

2004-08-20

Years before Father Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil’s soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in

Repossessed
2.6

Repossessed

1990-09-14

It's been some time since Father Jebedaiah Mayii exorcised the Devil from little Nancy Aglet, who is

Exorcist II: The Heretic
2.3

Exorcist II: The Heretic

1977-06-17

Bizarre nightmares plague Regan MacNeil four years after her possession and exorcism. Has the demon

Polaris
0

Polaris

In 1890s Alaska, an ice photographer meets the Devil.

Needful Things
3.1

Needful Things

1993-08-27

A mysterious new shop opens in a small town which always seems to stock the deepest desires of each

The Day of the Beast
3.6

The Day of the Beast

1995-10-20

The story revolves around a Basque Roman Catholic priest dedicated to committing as many sins as pos

Thir13en Ghosts
3.1

Thir13en Ghosts

2001-10-26

Arthur and his two children inherit his uncle's estate: a glass house that serves as a prison to twe

Fallen
3.4

Fallen

1998-01-16

Homicide detective John Hobbes witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese. Soon after the

End of Days
3

End of Days

1999-11-24

Cynical bodyguard Jericho is hired by a man possessed by Satan, who is in search of his bride. When

Poltergeist III
2.6

Poltergeist III

1988-06-10

Carol Anne has been sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle in an effort to hide her from the clutches