‘Rage’ VOD Review

Stars: Nicole Fortuin, Jane de Wet, Carel Nel, Tristan de Beer, Lida Botha, Roberto Kyle, David Viviers, Shalima Mkongi, Sihle Mnqwazana, Emma Kotze | Written by Tertius Kapp | Directed by Jaco Bouwer

When a group of friends embark on their dream coastal break to attend the ultimate rave in an off-grid town, they get a fear-filled awakening as their night of raging becomes their worst nightmare… As their experiences become weirder and weirder, they release that they’ve been drugged and dragged into a dark, shocking, deadly ritual.

Following his 2021 eco-horror, Gaia, director Jaco Bouwer crafts his latest horror flick in a small coastal village. Holidaying there are a group of teenagers on their gap year, staying at a local house as they celebrate by partying to excess. As they disregard a warning to leave, the group are soon picked off one by one.

As they joyfully party to celebrate their freedom from school, the group puts on facades which make them resemble vapid stereotypes that were prevalent throughout 2000s horror. There is decent character work as the facades drop, allowing the group to feel like real people, yet these instances feel too rare and make it difficult to care for this largely insufferable group. Their worst moments involve Albert (Carel Nel), a local plumber the teens ostracise after mocking him to his face.

This South African folk horror offers decent moments of gore and creepy imagery, yet it feels lacking in much else. There is little to the horrific instances, missing tension and chills in sequences which unfortunately become repetitive. Promise lurks within the heart of this premise, as locals who had their homes taken from them strike back at the entitled occupiers, yet it feels underdeveloped to instead lean into the “scary locals” stereotype that teeters on xenophobia.

** 2/5

Rage is out now on digital platforms from Reel 2 Reel Films.