Quarries

Quarries is a captivating thriller released in 2016, featuring Nicole Marie Johnson, Carrie Finn, and Leisha Hailey in central roles. The narrative delves deep into human resilience, fear, survival, and the dark side of nature – both human and natural.

Nicole Marie Johnson, co-writer of the movie, plays the lead character, Kat. She endures an abusive relationship and, yearning for a fresh start, joins a group of women on a two-week trek in the wilderness. The film opens with Kat engaged in a disruptive relationship with a man who is gradually revealed to be violent towards her. This tumultuous relationship prompts her to seek solace and independence amidst nature. Carrie Finn and Leisha Hailey, along with a group of other gifted actresses, form the diverse, self-empowered cohort accompanying Kat on her wilderness journey.

The novice group, under the guidance of a seasoned women-only adventure company, embarks on a trail into the secluded wilderness. The trek intended to establish a bond among these women, make them realize their potential, and help them find peace and togetherness. They are of different age groups, backgrounds, and fitness levels, but all are united in the hope of finding liberating solidarity away from their daily lives.

The picturesque and rugged landscapes provide an incredible backdrop to the movie's unfolding drama. The first segment of the film centers on these women learning to adapt to the harsh realities of the wilderness, enduring physical challenges, and gradually overcoming their apprehensions and establishing bonds.

However, the turning point comes when the journey turns from a liberating trek into a fight for survival, hurling the group into an unwelcome confrontation with a group of relentless, unforgiving hunters. The hunters, akin to predators, lurk around the mystical wilderness, turning it into a deadly hunting ground.

The contrast between the two groups – the hunters and the hunted – sets the tone for the rest of the film. From here, Quarries ingeniously weaves gripping terror, a tense environment, and chills down to the spine as the women are forced to tap into their primal instincts.

Abandoning their initial goal of emotional liberation and sisterhood, the group's primary concern suddenly shifts to physical survival. They have to rely on their strength, willpower, and ultimately, each other, to stay alive in the face of imminent danger. Each woman responds differently, revealing their resilience, courage, and the depth of their character.

The performances by the ensemble cast stand out, in particular, Nicole Marie Johnson. Her transformation from a vulnerable woman to a fighter truly personifies the film's ethos of resilience and survival instinct. Similarly, the hunters, though playing antagonists, convincingly portray the grim menace adding further dimensions to the plot.

Director Nils Taylor effectively builds suspense and creates a high-octane experience, ensuring the audience remains on the edge of their seats. The grandeur and the wilderness of the location become an essential character in the film – at times a sanctuary, at times a threat.

In essence, Quarries is more than just a typical thriller. With strong female characters portrayed at the core of the narrative, it becomes a tale of empowerment, resilience, bonding, and metamorphosis. It is a testament to the human instinct for survival and the lengths that one would go to ensure it. Through Kat and her comrades, the film paints an inspiring picture of self-discovery, fortitude, and human resilience even when faced with the direst of situations.

Quarries is recommended for those who appreciate suspense, human drama, and are fans of survival thrillers. It is not just the cold and rugged wilderness that sends shivers down the spine, but the realization of what lies within us, waiting to surface in the face of mortal danger.