Jun. 24, 2022|Canada|87 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Action;Science;Fiction;Thriller
Description: In the movie “Slash/Back,” a mysterious threat from outer space emerges near the Arctic Circle. Humanity’s surprising first line of defense is a group of Inuit girls who rely on their intelligence and traditional hunting and fishing tools. Unlike typical low-budget alien invasion films, where the extraterrestrial threat takes center stage, director Nyla Innuksuk flips the script, making the spirited group of teenagers the heart of the story. The unique northern setting and impressive monster effects further enhance the appeal of this film.
Filmed in and around Pangnirtung, a small fishing village in Canada’s Nunavut territory, the story unfolds in a breathtaking remote landscape surrounded by snowy tundra and distant mountains. Early scenes evoke the atmosphere of John Carpenter’s “The Thing,” with a tentacle emerging from a hole in the ice to kill an American geologist. This thrilling moment sets the stage for the adventure, which takes a more family-friendly turn both on and off-screen.
In the spirit of Robert Rodriguez’s “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl,” Innuksuk crafted the film with young audiences in mind. She held acting workshops to assemble her cast of talented teenagers. The film follows Maika, played by Tasiana Shirley, a restless teen wearing a leather jacket with the phrase “No Justice on Stolen Land” painted on the back. Maika dreams of leaving her small town for a more exciting life. Alongside her friends Jesse, Leena, and Uki, she channels her frustration into making a difference, though they struggle to figure out how. Together, they face the alien threat with courage and determination.
Cast director: Nyla Innuksuk
Cast actor: Tasiana Shirley, Alexis Wolfe, Nalajoss Ellsworth, Chelsea Prusky, Frankie Vincent-Wolfe, Shaun Benson, Kristian Bruun, Melissa Hood, Amelie Albert-LeBlanc, Natar Ungalaaq
Original name: Slash Back