Middling Supernatural Terror Can Be Found Beyond the Drumlins (PANIC)

Title: Beyond the Drumlins

First Non-Festival Release: TBD

Director: Dan Bowhers

Writer: Dan Bowhers, Michael Kowalski

Runtime: 95 Minutes

Starring: Michael Kowalski, Emma Jessop, Morgan DeTogne

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

This film’s review was written after its screening at the Panic Film Festival in 2025.

Professor Jonathan Rust (Michael Kowalski) leads a group into the forest to scout locations for his upcoming field practicum for his archeology students in a remote location known as the Drumlins. Along for the ride, Professor Rust brings his Teaching Assistant Cameron (Emma Jessop), fellow professor Mary (Morgan DeTogne), former classmate Tanner (Dan Titmuss), and day laborer Tom (Goodfella Mike G). Initially, their journey goes well, making good time and discovering interesting artifacts in the forest. Their luck runs out when one of their group goes missing.

Dull psychological horror Beyond the Drumlins bores with its uneven approach to scares.

Beyond the Drumlins takes time to weave its web of quiet, psychological horror but it likely won’t leave much of an impression once it finishes. Its setup is quite intriguing. Ancient artifacts scattered across an isolated forest beholden to an unrelenting, primitive force is ripe for both horror and deeper thematic exploration. Unfortunately, beyond this, there is a severe lack of commitment to its ideas. Its psychological aspect is blunted by how its forest arbitrarily takes over the various characters and how they subsequently act. The haunted forest aspect really only applies to one character outside of said arbitrary possession, which makes it hard to define the film’s direction in what exactly is targeting these people.

Nothing hurts its story more than its scrambled structure and tendency to isolate characters in eyerolling ways. Following Cameron’s journey, as she confronts the horrors of the woods alone, Beyond the Drumlins makes the story murkier with the clunky inclusion of flashback sequences. Not only do they chop up the narrative but fail to address any burning questions or add much horror to the story. Contending with the psychological and supernatural effects of the woods not long after Cameron disappears, the group splits up in an unconvincing show of looking for the teaching assistant. It would be one thing if these moments told us much about the characters, but it really serves more to further the story.

Bland characters and uninspired performances don’t go beyond the requirements of the genre. While each member of the small team is differentiated, they all fall into simple stock characters without much personality. Each member has their own needs for trekking into the woods, but it feels like only a few get the luxury of truly sitting with their intentions. Most of their interactions come down to bickering and shouting about what to do next, which is hardly inspiring. The cast does a fine job, but their performances never go beyond serviceable. Maybe had there been more to glean from the script could their talent shine brighter but it’s fine all the same.

Competently filmed, writer/director Daniel W. Bowhers does juggle some interesting ideas and competently helms the indie production.  Capturing the dark energy of the forest, Beyond the Drumlins feels as mysterious as it sets out to be. From the swaying of the tall grass to the seemingly innocuous dig site, everything feels slightly off here. In both darkness and light, this energy prevails adding to the film’s moody atmosphere. Using its forest setting to the maximum, Beyond the Drumlins feels like a fully lived in world thanks to its stripped-down set design. Adding to the vibes of the film, there is this familiar sweaty, dirty quality about it that makes the experience feel more real.

The ingredients for a captivating horror film are here: an interesting setup, a grounded production, and a springboard for horror to transpire in wild and imaginative ways. Unfortunately, Beyond the Drumlins doesn’t go beyond the typical. Its dull story, languid pacing, and empty characters overshadow its technical competence and any mystery that its story might inspire. There’s something hidden in the dirt of this story, and it’s up to you, the prospective viewer, to decide if this journey is one worth taking.

Overall Score? 4/10