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(Brooklyn Horror Film Fest 2026) SPLIT ROCK: Come for the Badlands, Stay for the Body Horror (If You Can)

By. Vanessa Maki

 

SPLIT ROCK made its North American premiere on October 21st at Brooklyn Horror Film Fest.

There’s an inherent terror that comes with being stuck in an isolated area where unexplainable events are taking place. If you set your horror film in the Badlands you’re guaranteed to mine some of that atmosphere, even if the film isn’t entirely engaging in its narrative. SPLIT ROCK, directed by Ryan Glover, captures the beauty as well as the isolation that comes with being stuck in the Badlands. Unfortunately on a narrative front, SPLIT ROCK doesn’t land gracefully.

 

SPLIT ROCK follows Lauren (Clark Backo), Ben (Drew Ray Tanner), and the rest of their geologist team whose scientific exploration of the Badlands leads them into unsavory circumstances. Despite the warning signs of something sinister lurking in the area, the crew continues and what they discover isn’t remotely what they wanted. The uneasy atmosphere is firmly established throughout the movie, and the sound design is notable. Though, what you’re mostly left with regarding this movie are vibes, an extreme slow burn until the final stretch.

 

The beginning of the film establishes Lauren and Ben’s relationship to one another. There aren’t many characters, which means they’re the primary focus. We come to understand that there’s some friction and uncertainty about their future. But the show must go on and as the few team members are introduced, it’s quite obvious that nothing good is going to come for any of these characters.

We’ve seen this type of scenario time and time again throughout countless horror films. People travel where they shouldn’t, think scientific discovery is worth all of the risks, or they stumble upon something that causes death and destruction. SPLIT ROCK presents you with those familiar beats, pushes the characters further towards their own demise, but doesn’t make you feel invested enough in what’s happening. Despite how there are forces at play that are causing bizarre behaviors within the characters, it still feels like there’s a slight lack in wanting to survive.

When Lauren begins to act the most strange, it’s very obvious to the audience that she’s particularly sensitive to the unexplained forces. Why that’s the case isn’t explored enough, nor does it feel like there’s enough depth in SPLIT ROCK to get into any subtextual meaning. It’s definitely great to see more Black women in horror where the role doesn’t require them to be a stereotype. But this film doesn’t do much to make you organically connect with her or the characters.

 

As the forces at play continue to make the team do violent things to themselves, the visuals become increasingly startling. This is mostly where SPLIT ROCK shines, other than the sound design that’ll make you feel like you’re in the Badlands with them. When we’re not meandering in the slow burn of it all, we get gruesome practical effects that’s sure to give goosebumps to those who are squeamish. The moments of horror are nothing short of spectacular and Glover knows how to capture these scenes to make them effective. If only there wasn’t a long wait to get there.

 

Josh Tanner's POSTHUMOUS has a similar problem: its most disturbing imagery is trapped inside a film that doesn't quite know what to do with it. Vanessa Maki found the old VHS recordings genuinely creepy, but the supernatural mystery surrounding them never managed to sustain that unease. Sometimes a few frightening minutes only make the rest of a movie's shortcomings more obvious.

Slow burn horror can be a hard sell, but on occasion if there’s a strong enough pay off then the wait is worth it. The problem lies in whether the film engages you enough even in the slower portion of it. SPLIT ROCK only provides flickers of engagement until everything really goes down the drain. And by then you’re left wondering why the film didn’t kick into gear much earlier.

Having too much narrative restraint and leaving the audience with more questions than answers isn’t always a wise decision. Glover’s heavy focus on capturing menacing imagery and honing in on the scenery makes for great visuals. Though, vibes and visuals can’t entirely hide how the writing is lacking.
 

The performances are strong throughout, even when the characters feel like they’re lacking common sense in their lucid moments. Backo and Tanner do what they can with the direction their characters go individually and together. But strong performances can’t always keep a film from stumbling in its race to the finish line.

 

SPLIT ROCK’s premise slightly promises that you’re in for something grand, but frustratingly this film doesn’t soar as high as it should’ve. The writing is on the wall for these people and not enough is explained for it to matter in the end. While SPLIT ROCK will certainly remind folks of THE OUTWATERS (2022) in terms of the doom of the characters, it doesn’t take you on a rollercoaster.
 

The potential that SPLIT ROCK had to go bigger fizzled out entirely by the end, which doesn’t make all of that waiting to get there worthwhile. Sci-fi horror films such as this one should aim to be more bizarre in the events. The film would’ve benefitted greatly from that type of narrative push.

 

SPLIT ROCK will appeal to people who are mostly satisfied with strong visuals, strong performances, and gorgeous cinematography. If you’re in the mood for a sci-fi horror film that won’t leave you mildly confused by the end, you’re not going to find that here.


SPLIT ROCK will become available to watch on Shudder on December 25th.

 

Alison-Eve Hammersley's ERIE also takes its sweet time getting to the nightmare, but Vanessa Maki found its patience considerably more rewarding. The found footage mystery follows two grieving siblings investigating a series of deaths in their hometown, building toward a final act that makes the long, uneasy journey worthwhile.