BODY AT BRIGHTON ROCK (2019)

Starring Karina Fontes, Casey Adams, Emily Althaus

Directed by Roxanne Benjamin

Distributed by Magnolia Pictures. 86 minutes. Rated R.

Director Roxanne Benjamin is quickly becoming the reigning queen of horror, with past films like Southbound and the Cherry Glazerr music video Nurse Ratched bringing thrills and blood by the bucketful. In the wonderfully campy camp thriller Body at Brighton Rock, Benjamin takes the audience on a tumultuous ride through the isolated backcountry where a lack of cell phone service is just as terrifying as a dead body.

A simple walk in the woods turns out to be anything but for “indoor kid” Wendy (Karina Fontes), whose natural instincts are not rooted in nature. Wendy isn’t the stereotypical park ranger prototype, she is small in stature with a quiet presence, and frankly, just very unlucky. After a simple assignment turns into her losing her only map, and her way, in the woods, Wendy fears the worst, but she never expects to stumble upon a dead body. Which she does.

The thriller here isn’t necessarily the bloody and bruised body, it’s being in the middle of nowhere with poor wifi connection, alone. After frantic calls via an old walkie talkie to the command center, she is told to stay near the body overnight until the rescue team can get to her in the morning. Wendy is pushed to her emotional and physical limits as she struggles to survive and stay sane in the middle of nowhere.

What’s equally impressive as the female presence onscreen from Fontes and actors Emily Althaus and Miranda Bailey is the powerhouse of women working behind the scenes. Aside from director Roxanne Benjamin, cinematographer Hannah Getz, co-editor Courtney Marcilliat, and production designers Courtney and Hillary Andujar combine talents to make Body at Brighton Rock a power anthem of female force. Original music by The Gifted, who has worked closely with Benjamin for years, accompanies the film and creates the perfectly eerie soundtrack for a restless night’s sleep.

Body at Brighton Rock is a tight-knit film both in scope and execution. The story takes place in predominantly one location and all within 24 hours, making this a delightfully swift watch. It’s not the type of film to give you nightmares, but it will leave you in anticipation of what director Roxanne Benjamin has up her sleeve next.

Body at Brighton Rock opens this Friday at Laemmle Glendale