Name: Backpackers
Genre: Thriller
Released: 2022-08-16T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Kevin Dy, Roi Neri, Salome Salvi, Aylene Velasco

The jungle looms large in the opening shots of Backpackers, its verdant chaos swallowing whole the three young travelers who step into its embrace. Director Bong Bordones’ thriller, an Enigmatic Original production, plays with the familiar tropes of survival horror but grounds them in a distinctly Philippine context. The result is a film that crackles with tension but stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions.

The premise is simple: Dags (Kevin Dy), Vale (Roi Neri), and Kara (Salome Salvi) embark on a journey through the jungle, unaware that a killer stalks them. The trio’s dynamic—Dags’ earnestness, Vale’s cynicism, Kara’s quiet intensity—is established quickly, and the actors commit to their roles with palpable energy. Dy, in particular, brings a boyish charm to Dags that makes his eventual encounters with danger all the more unsettling.

Bordones excels at creating atmosphere. The jungle is not just a backdrop but a character in its own right, its dense foliage and eerie silences amplifying the film’s tension. The sound design is particularly noteworthy, with the rustle of leaves and distant bird calls serving as an ever-present reminder of the unknown dangers lurking just out of sight.

However, Backpackers falters when it comes to pacing and originality. The killer’s identity and motives are telegraphed well in advance, robbing the film’s third act of any real suspense. Moreover, the film’s attempts at social commentary—exploring themes of class and privilege through the lens of backpacking tourism—feel tacked on rather than organic to the narrative.

The performances are a mixed bag. While Dy and Salvi (as Mitch, the fourth member of the group introduced later) deliver compelling work, Roi Neri’s Vale feels underdeveloped, her character arc culminating in a decision that strains credulity. The script, too, is prone to clichés, with several scenes playing out like a checklist of thriller tropes.

That said, Backpackers is not without its merits. Bordones’ direction is assured, and the film’s visuals are undeniably striking. A sequence in which the group stumbles upon an abandoned village, its hollowed-out eyesores a stark contrast to the lush greenery surrounding it, is particularly effective.

Ultimately, Backpackers is a film that promises more than it delivers. It’s a competent thriller with moments of genuine tension and visual flair, but it’s let down by predictable plotting and underdeveloped characters.

Tags: thrillers, Backpackers, Bong Bordones, Kevin Dy, Roi Neri, Salome Salvi