By Mark Young
Coming in hot to on-demand services is Jacked, the latest addition to the stalk and slash genre via Indican Pictures. Like me, it’s possible that you have seen a lot like this, and the premise where we have two teenagers stuck out in the woods whilst fending off the attentions of a violent psycho intent on doing someone some harm doesn’t exactly fill me with a burning need to find out what happens. But sometimes you have to be curious and put your feelings to one side just in case you have lucked upon a rough diamond.
So, initially it doesn’t do a whole lot you haven’t seen before, with two threads that are gradually pulled together over the course of the 1st act. A gentle introduction to the teens, blissfully unaware of the danger in their midst and the man who carries that air of violence around with him. Like traditional slashers, there isn’t that much happening so if you are looking for non-stop carnage from the start, you’ll be best served looking elsewhere. On the other hand, if you are in the mood for something that starts slowly, like a car parked at the top of a hill whose hand brake has just slipped then this could be for you. This isn’t a case of the film presenting the pair as the standard unlikable sort, they are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The main cast are compelling enough to make you invested in how it plays out, with a story that is rooted in a believable world and is shot with an unforgiving eye. Personally, it’s the sort of film which, if you chanced upon whilst searching for something to watch, you’d think it to be a decent result. It’s a lot better than some of the content on streaming services at the moment, and I love the fact that it plays it straight.
Jacked is available on streaming services now via Apple TV, Prime, Fandango at Home, Google Play and others
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