Hellcat, the feature film debut of writer and director Brock Bodell, made it’s world premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival. The horror thriller tells the story of a young woman who wakes up injured and locked inside a moving camper trailer. The man who put her there claims she’s been infected by something and he’s taking her to a specialist, but is he really trying to help or does he have more sinister intentions?

This intimate, mostly single-location story seems to take inspiration from films such as 10 Cloverfield Lane. Audiences are thrown right into the thick of the plot in Hellcat. Just like the protagonist, Lena, we have no idea what’s happening or how the character got into this position. The only thing that’s clear is the camper is being hauled on the road and Lena has a wound on her arm that’s been bandaged. To make things even more unnerving, the driver who claims he’s taking her to get help is just a disembodied voice, speaking to her through a speaker from the cab of his truck. The film does a wonderful job of dropping the audience, along with Lena, right into the deep end. It immediately establishes tension, which only builds as more information comes to light. The audience will be on the edge of their seats, trying to determine if the driver is the hero or the villain of this story. It all leads to a finale with twists and shocks that crash in like waves, each wave hitting harder than the last. This allows for a fascinating mythos, albeit one that leads to more questions than answers. While certain aspects of the ending might not appeal to all audiences, it will absolutely be a memorable experience.

The heart and soul of Hellcat is Dakota Gorman (Teen Wolf, Criminal Minds) as Lena. Because the film primarily depicts Lena alone in the camper, Gorman’s performance is what drives the plot forward. She is breathtaking as this character, showcasing all the fear and determination one would expect to see from someone in that situation. Yet Gorman manages to add even more depth to Lena as she comes to terms with her current situation while at the same time she’s struggling with personal issues from her past. Despite being off-screen for a majority of the film, Todd Terry (Breaking Bad, Lioness) wonderfully brings Clive to life. His performance brilliantly plays with the viewer’s mind, at times coming across as almost fatherly while other times seeming like a stone cold killer. Whether separated by the camper or face to face, the antagonistic dynamics between Gorman and Terry add to the mounting terror throughout the film.

Because Hellcat is almost entirely in a single location, the filmmakers found unique ways to create compelling visuals. The camper at first seems like a normal, cozy camper. Yet the more Lena investigates, the more the audience will notice rather frightening details. The production design and the little clues throughout the camper create a wonderful sense of danger and claustrophobia to the space. Despite the tight space, Hellcat manages to add interest to the camper in unique ways through memory sequences. Instead of showing these memories as they happen elsewhere, Lena views these scenes from her life as if they happened in the camper itself. It’s such a clever choice that also adds a dreamy quality with the help of neon lights and fog. On top of that, audiences get flashes of old family photos and home movies, adding more dynamic shots. The film includes some well-done, subtle makeup effects for wounds and to create Lena’s sickly appearance. Yet what audiences will remember most is a wild practical effect in the final moments of the film, sure to deliver shock and awe.

Hellcat delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense with a finale audiences won’t see coming. Bodell crafted a wonderful feature film debut, creating a film that manages to be both familiar and genuinely unexpected. It has a character-driven plot with brilliant performances from Gorman and Terry, easily grabbing the audiences’ attention. The location is unsettling, the visuals are surprisingly dynamic, and the effects are memorable. While the end of the film won’t appeal to all, it will certainly have people talking and interested in what Bodell does next.

OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10