by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden
In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s Michael Rock’s found footage horror, The Ruck March.
Synopsis
A desert endurance event turns ominous for two women and their fellow participants. As they trek through the harsh, barren terrain, what began as a test of physical limits evolves into a harrowing struggle against unforeseen dangers.
The Good
Joseph: Natalie Hurt and Amanda Morgan give two solid performances as likable characters, which are not always a part of found-footage horror films. Their chemistry as friends and the dialogue between them rings true.
Mike: Like Horror Dadz Productions’ Tahoe Joe films, there is plenty of interesting desert and wilderness on display here in The Ruck March. The sub-sixty minute runtime keeps things on track and doesn’t allow for much — if any — extraneous exposition which can sometimes distract from the events and bog things down.
The Bad
Joseph: Trying to avoid spoilers here, if budgets are limited but filmmakers wish to show a certain something, the wiser route is to show less of that something and leave the rest to viewers’ imagination, or find creative ways to heighten the suspense that don’t show budgetary seams. Here, director Rock and crew show too much, and even have a voiceover character make a joke about it. Neither of those decisions worked for me. The reasoning behind the villains’ actions toward what I’m being vague about is also a head-scratcher, as no back story or other explanation is given. Also, those with aversions to found footage films where people walk around for the majority of the film with little in the way of horror until later in the third act won’t find anything new here to change their minds.
Mike: Sometimes less is more — and I’m not referring to the runtime.
The Verdict
Joseph: Recommended mainly for found-footage horror completists.
Mike: The Ruck March should appeal to hardcore found footage fans and those that really dig Michael Rock and Horror Dadz.
The Ruck March
Directed By: Michael Rock
Written By: Michael Rock
Starring: Zoogie Austin, Eddie Blake, Carter Brown
Run Time: 53m
Rating: NR
Release Date: March 1, 2025 (United States)
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