This is the first time I would definitely define something as an “experiential horror”. By definition of Google: “Experiential horror films prioritize stylistic choices and unique storytelling over conventional horror structures, often pushing boundaries and experimenting with different techniques to create a unique sense of fear and dread.” The Outwaters is just that, literally by definition. This found-footage horror film is Directed, written and starred by Robbie Banfitch.

The synopsis of The Outwaters was simple really, a group of 4 friends went to Mojave Desert to shoot a music video of sorts. That was it—until shit started happening.

The camera movements were like that of a college thesis project. It was literally hard to watch, let alone finish it. Most of time it was nauseating but I felt like I had to finish it for the benefit of people reading this. There were times that it was smooth sailing, camera-wise, but I’d say 3/4 of the film was either upside down or panning left to right or wherever, and I couldn’t figure out what was really happening.

Music

Love the music in The Outwaters though, it was bold and with volume. Eerie and creepy yet it invites you in, despite the camera movement, the music/sound FX kept my attention going.

Characters

The cast was a tightly knit group of friends, and actually they really were in real life. Banfitch intentionally looked for a group of friends to be casted. In one interview, he stated that he dislikes whenever he sees a movie with a group of friends in it with no chemistry whatsoever. Banfitch himself starred in this and was the main character, reminds me of the indie film Afflicted.

Give it a chance

Now, you’d see user reviews of The Outwaters averaging from 4 out of 10, and I’d understand if you feel that way as well, because that was the same rating I instantly gave right after I watched it the first time… yes, I watched it twice. Just to really understand it.

My interpretation of The Outwaters (in detail)

The first few scenes, they’re still in the city and there was 2 huge earthquakes that occurred. Those earthquakes happened in the desert and were either caused naturally or something from underground found its way up. So that earthquake was an important detail.

Then they went on to the Mojave Desert, everything was fine until their first night camping. Most of the scenes during nighttime were pitch black and I wasn’t even sure who was holding the camera. So I’m assuming Banfitch was holding the camera and we’d see an orb of light flickering in the distance with a small slit of light in between. I gather that it was an alien spaceship. The following nights weren’t better, it even got worse.

One night scene, we see someone’s silhouette holding an axe on top of a hill, the next scene we see Scott (or was it Banfitch) all bloodied. Then the next morning, we see just small snippets of the group, then back to night. Its like they were in some kind of time loop, preventing someone from actually dying.

Whenever a scene ends with that flickering orb of light, the next scene would be morning and Banfitch would be “reborn” with a sort of amniotic sac, blood spilling everywhere. We even see him sloughing skin much like a lizard would. This led me to believe in the alien abduction theory more. Oh, and there was a scene where Banfitch would see a “Restricted Area” sign by the government. So yeah, alien abduction at a decommissioned site.

Towards the end, after he was “reborn” yet again, and with all the madness he encountered, he sees the head of 3 of his friends impaled upon a wooden stake, then he says sorry to Michelle, which I never figured out why, maybe he killed her with an axe while hallucinating or something, which I highly believe he killed all three of them at some point. Then he found sort of an arrowhead, or a small triangular blade, he then proceeds to castrate himself, even went on to stab and slice the detached “meat” on the ground.

The Outwaters ended with Banfitch slitting his belly open, innards and intestines hanging about like a garland on Christmas morning, walking mindlessly into the desert.

My take, in summary:

• The earthquake released something
• Decommissioned test site of sorts
• Alien abduction
• Kills all three of his friends while hallucinating
• Madness takes hold of Banfitch and ends himself.

Conclusion

Definitely not for everyone, not because of the violence and gore, but because its too hard to watch, literally. The camera was confusing, the story was confusing, everything was confusing, definitely a mind fvck of a film. Nonetheless it was definitely ambitious. I’d recommend The Outwaters as a one-time watch, if you can finish it that is.