There's just something about a film with a hashtag in the title that puts a bad taste in my mouth, but when I saw that Zac Locke, known for The Voyeurs, was connected, I figured I'd give it a shot. #Float follows an aspiring vlogger and her friends as they embark on their annual river float to commemorate the untimely loss of their friend. They are plunged into a life-and-death battle with a mysterious local, a sinister paranormal force, and their own fears. While that may sound intriguing, #Float suffers from a lack of budget, odd scripting choices, and bad pacing, because of this, we're left with a '90s thriller that should have never left the cabin.
There is a lot of good here though. Outside of Blake's gum chewing, all the actors are in their highest form, and honestly, this film is better acted than most projects on a shoestring budget. The conversations and situations are ridiculously believable, and the drone shots are perfectly utilized throughout the film. Lately, it just seems directors throw them in for no reason, with #Float the footage adds to the story as well as the overall eerie tone that couldn't have been replicated otherwise.
That's about it though. There are a lot of unnecessary and time-wasting subplots. As a Father, the arguing between the parents was weird and annoying. It's fine to have some conflict, but the longer it went on the more it took me out of the story. Sure, parents fight, but it got to the point where it just felt silly, and it was actually a relief when one of them died, not because I was ready for some carnage, but because I knew that story thread was complete and Blake, who was played by Grant Morningstar, the weakest of the cast, had no more screen time.
With the worst of the group behind us, this film should start to pick up, right? The crew splits up leaving on their own dull journeys, each dumber than the last. Without spoiling it, there are odd turns that do their best to re-engage the viewer, but because some of the choices are so out of the left field you can't help but feel that the result was due to budgetary constraints.
I was really hoping a crazy twist would save the movie but sadly, this one is as advertised. It opens strong but conclusively the film bites off more than it can chew and leaves the audience confused and wanting a bit more after sitting through the chore-like introduction. There are some really cool Cabin Fever-type moments and the ending is decent enough, but it’s hard to look past the pacing issues and the unfulfillment throughout the feature.
#Float has some good bones, and with a bit more money I think this could have been a special project, but because of the overall slow ride and lack of enjoyment throughout, I don't see this one getting talked about much after its initial release. Also, what's with the closing credits? If you know, you know. #Float Comes to digital and VOD on December 9th.
Jessie Hobson