There’s always a price to pay.|Feb. 11, 2022|United States|92 Min.|n/A
Genre: Drama;Horror
Description: “Those Who Walk Away,” released in 2022, is a gripping horror film that follows Max and Avery as their first date takes a terrifying turn. After meeting on a social media app, the pair decide to visit a local haunted house rumored to be the lair of ‘Rotcreep,’ a malevolent creature that can rot both body and soul with a single touch. What begins as an evening of curiosity soon descends into a deadly game of survival. As the night unfolds, Max and Avery discover that their shared traumas might either save them or plunge them into an unforgettable nightmare.
Directed by Robert Rippberger, the film employs a single-take aesthetic, reminiscent of experiments like “Silent House” and “Let’s Scare Julie.” While not a true continuous shot, the movie uses extended sequences to build tension and a sense of accelerating dread as the characters navigate the haunted house. However, the pacing suffers as it takes nearly 45 minutes—half the film’s runtime—to introduce the menacing Rotcreep, portrayed by Nils Allen Stewart. By the time the supernatural elements fully manifest, the earlier scenes, which feel more akin to a mumblecore romantic dramedy, have already set the tone.
Max, played by Booboo Stewart, and Avery, played by Scarlett Sperduto, meet in person after connecting on a dating app. Their initial awkwardness gives way to a shared plan to attend a retro screening of “Evil Dead.” When a bomb threat forces the theater to close, Avery proposes an alternative: exploring a local paranormal hotspot. Max, determined to impress her, agrees, unaware that their shared personal traumas—including Max’s guilt over abandoning his mother, who suffers from Huntington’s disease—could awaken an unstoppable evil. Their night of romance soon becomes a fight for survival as they confront both their inner demons and the horrors of the haunted house.
Cast director: Robert Rippberger
Cast actor: Booboo Stewart, Scarlett Sperduto, Grant Morningstar, Bryson JonSteele, Devin Keaton, Nils Allen Stewart
Original name: Those Who Walk Away