Program Note
A worthy addition to the ever-growing slasher sub-genre, Jenn Wexler’s The Ranger sees a group of friends being hunted down by a psychotic park ranger (Jeremy Holm) in the woods who takes a particular disliking to those who don’t follow the rules. The film’s central protagonist is pink haired rocker Chelsea (Chloe Levine) who is forced to flee with her buddies from their favourite club when it is raided by the police searching for drugs, which they possess. After Chelsea’s boyfriend Garth (Granit Lahu) stabs a police officer in a scuffle, they drive to a secluded cabin in the woods owned by Chelsea’s late uncle. They soon find themselves in the middle of a death trap as more about Chelsea’s past is unveiled. With the film’s first half laying the necessary groundwork in terms of the character development, the film kicks into a bloodier gear in the latter half as the body count rises at a rapid rate. Well-performed and executed, be careful to not anger the ranger. (Jason BECHERVAISE)