Review of Cub (2014) by Mark M — 23 Mar 2015

Resulting from another successful Indiegogo campaign, Cub is a no-holds barred Belgian slasher flick that benefits from being an indie movie free from the constricting reins of studio meddling. The directorial debut of Jonas Govaerts, Cub is rooted in old school horror conventions that Govaerts and co-writer Roel Mondelaers successfully meld with fantasy elements with a coming of age tale at its forefront.

A bully victim and complete pushover, Sam's veiled past puts him under the close scrutiny of harsh pack leader, Chris (Titus De Voodgt) and Peter (Stef Aerts) - along with Jasmijn (Evelien Bosmans) - who are charged with looking after the twelve-year-old. Grappling with the treatment in the Scout pack due to being anti-social and a social outcast, Sam finds refuge from the bullies in the troop by retreating into the woods after the two pack leaders play up a local legend about a werewolf - called "Kai" - residing in the forest.

Atmospheric and well-acted, Cub's beautiful near-fantastical imagery - aided by the cinematographer Nicolas Karakatsanis of The Drop (2014) - occurs whenever Sam wanders off into the woods by leaving the pressures stemming from the cusp of adolescence that he is pinned under. His escapades prove to be a - tonally and thematic - departure from the contrasting atmosphere within the actual camp. This isn't to say Cub comes up short as a horror movie. Scenes go back and forth to detail the events that occur in and out of the camp site, with those outside building up to the eventual climax involving Sam and the preying eyes amidst the trees. Relying at times on jump scares, Govaerts execution is skilful as each rare occurrence of a scare feels natural rather than a contrived event meant solely to jolt the viewer in their seat momentarily.

Though the entirety of Cub is a solid, consistent horror entry, it does have misgivings, particularly with how the antagonists aren't fleshed out in the least. If "Kai" and "the Man" were terrible horror villains, their development wouldn't really matter, but due to the excellent delivery of both, viewers might be left wanting in the duo's execution department due to their shrouded background being buried beneath a vehicular graveyard.