Review published 21st June 2026
Watch the official trailer.
Pitfall Hiking Trip Setup and Mysterious Disappearances
Scott (Marshall Williams), his partner Gwen (Jordan Claire Robbins), Scott’s sister Ashley (Alexandra Essoe), her partner Charlie (Matt Hamilton), and their close friend Lars (Richard Harmon) have set out on a three-day hiking trip through the wilderness. The journey marks five years since a devastating accident killed Scott and Ashley’s parents. While Scott has managed to remain positive and keep his emotions in check since the loss, Ashley continues to be deeply haunted by the events. Upon arriving at the entrance to the woods, the group notices something unsettling. Numerous missing person posters and warning notices are scattered throughout the area, making it clear that several people have recently vanished without a trace.
Pitfall Forest Trap, Stranded Friends and Survival Stakes
While the trip was supposed to be a time of peace and healing among partners and close friends, their time in the woods is about to become nothing but a horrific nightmare. In the forest lies a dangerous and highly skilled hunter who is also a ruthless killer (Randy Couture). When Scott and Charlie go fishing to catch a decent meal for the night, the pair are startled by a pack of wolves and, in a frantic rush, they attempt to run back to camp to alert the others. However, during the chaos, Scott discovers a pitfall usually used to capture deer, bears, and wolves; however, in this case, it is set up to trap human beings, with a ten-foot-deep drop before landing on spikes. Falling into the trap, Scott’s leg is pierced by a large spike. To make matters worse, Charlie lost Scott while they were fleeing the wolves. Although Scott manages to survive the fall, the clock is now ticking before he becomes a victim of the hunter. Now, the four remaining friends must work together to survive the ultimate killer hunter, and find and rescue Scott before it is too late. Making their search for Scott even more important is the fact that Scott has the group’s map and car keys: without him they are trapped in the woods.
Pitfall Director James Kondelik and Film Background
To clarify, despite its title, Pitfall (2026) is not based on the classic Atari video game Pitfall, which I played extensively as a youngster. Pitfall was directed by James Kondelik, whose past work behind the camera includes All Hallows’ Eve 2 (2015), Airplane vs Volcano (2015), Dam Sharks (2016), Jurassic Galaxy (2018), Hornet (2018), and more. Based on those titles alone, he has developed a reputation for delivering light, cheesy entertainment that requires little effort to watch and enjoy. However, Pitfall leans more into the serious genres of horror and suspense, offering less of the low budget feel often associated with Kondelik’s earlier work, while still delivering a number of solid thrills along the way.
Pitfall Concept, Killer Design and Horror Execution
As a film, Pitfall is a mixed bag for me. Firstly, let’s talk about the deadly hunter, who is equipped with a bow and arrow, an axe, and more. Circling his prey like a wolf and often taking pleasure in tormenting his victims from afar is visually quite haunting, but sadly, the hunter often spends time slowly walking after his victims instead of delivering a quick, decisive death, which can be painful to watch. On top of this, when the hunter is shown up close, due to the makeup, his overall appearance is more ridiculous than scary or menacing. He looks great from a distance as a lurking stalker, but up close, actor Randy Couture would have been more successful in the role if the character had remained more mysterious, keeping in the darkness and wearing his hooded jacket. The film’s concept is certainly strong, and the idea of members of the group potentially falling into a disastrous pitfall is extremely effective as a horror premise. The outcomes, such as who lives and who dies, are also quite unpredictable, which took me by surprise. The musical score by Jordan Han Andrew is extremely fitting for depicting characters trapped and facing their doom, and at times it strongly reminded me of the Saw film franchise. The kills themselves are quite savage, violent, and brutal, which is bound to please many horror fans.
Pitfall Pacing Issues, Character Logic and Third Act Payoff
However, while Pitfall might kill its victims quickly, the film’s pace is extremely slow, especially during the first hour, where I felt there was little happening on screen beyond characters speaking, sharing banter, and the occasional attempted jump scare. The film does eventually increase in pace during the third and final act, and while that payoff is rewarding, it takes a long time to get there. The characters are also not particularly bright, and even during some of the most horrific death scenes, certain reactions lack emotion, shock, or distress causing them to become unintentionally comedic at times, ultimately making it harder to stay engaged with the story. While the hunter presents as a strong threat, he also makes several mistakes, including multiple near misses with his bow and arrow, allowing the leads to escape in situations where they realistically should not have. At times, the hunter simply disappears like a ghost, and although he is given a backstory, it felt vague and difficult to fully accept.
Pitfall Horror Review, Performances and Execution Issues
Overall, Pitfall is a horror film that left me with mixed feelings. The kills are insanely savage, violent, and brutal, delivering plenty of gore for horror fans, but the film takes a long time to reach its strongest moments, most of which are saved for the finale. Randy Couture delivers some effective moments as the animalistic hunter and killer, particularly when he is lurking in the shadows and stalking his prey. In those scenes, he feels genuinely threatening. However, whenever the character is shown up close, the menace often gives way to something that feels more ridiculous and unintentionally laughable. The characters are far from the brightest, although I will give the film credit for keeping some of their fates unpredictable. With a strong musical score, an interesting concept, and several genuinely effective sequences, Pitfall has a lot working in its favour. Unfortunately, corny dialogue and uneven performances often pull it down. Reactions from the cast frequently feel out of sync with what is happening on screen, creating moments that are more distracting and awkward than effective. While there are flashes of a strong horror film here, the execution does not always live up to the potential of the premise.
Pitfall (2026) is Now Available on Digital in Australia & New Zealand thanks to Umbrella!
About the Reviewer
Peter Walkden
Film writer and curator with a deep passion for cinema, genre filmmaking, and physical media. Exploring new releases, cult favourites, and overlooked films, with a strong focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and the theatrical experience.
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