IBrakeForTrees

To enjoy this series, don't go into it with expectations that it'll be like the Alone or Bear Grylls series, where you can learn about survival in the wilderness. This is a story of a young woman who faces down her personal demons. It just happens to be set in the Canadian wilderness because that gives her the alone time she needs in order to overcome her personal obstacles -- and at the same time to find her inner strength and determination. The series operates on two simultaneous tracks: the here and now in the wilderness, and flashbacks showing her life up to that point, both as an adult and as a child. I would not disagree with others that there are perhaps too many similar flashbacks that could be edited out to make a 5-episode series instead of 6, but nonethless, the whole thing is quite well done and ultimately enjoyable. Part of that is due to an outstanding performance by Melissa Barrera whom I had not seen in anything before.

This is not as much of a review as it is a warning: if you watch this webseries on the Roku channel, be aware that as of 3/31/22 they've lost episode #4. Still worth watching, though, as I could piece together what was missing. Annalise Basso is remarkable as the scared but defiant teenager. Good supporting cast, good writing.

Good acting, good 50s atmosphere, good plot with twists and increasing complexity, but No Sudden Move just doesn't make it to a rating higher than 7. What's missing is a sense of empathy between the viewer and one or more characters. I just didn't relate to anyone in the film. It's not necessary for the relatable character to be a "good guy". He can just have a vulnerability like Tony Soprano or a determination to right a wrong, like the Mel Gibson character in Payback, but without that, the film fails what is sometimes called the "so what?" test. These chracters steal, get stolen from, kill, and are killed, and it's just: so what? We don't feel for them. We're watching the movie but we're not emotionally participating in the movie. Oh, well.