Based on a true story, The Devil's Pass (aka The Dyatlov Pass Incident and Devil's Pass) is an interesting mockumentary inspired by an actual event in Russia in February 1959, when nine Russian hikers ventured into a remote area of the Ural Mountains only to find death from causes that remain unknown to this day. This case, later known as the "Dyatlov Pass" incident, led investigators to believe that the cause of death was due to alien encounters and government conspiracies.
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Winner at the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, The Devil's Pass (USA, Russia, UK - 2013) is directed by Renny Harlin, the director of Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger.
Ne The Devil's Pass, the filmmaker offers his personal view of the real events that occurred but does not leave out the assumptions made by experts for decades.
Plot: In 2012, a group of students decide to report on the case related to the "Dyatlov Pass" incident. The young people travel to Russia to retrace the route of the nine hikers. There they will collect the testimonies of the locals and also those of some members of the rescue expedition that found the bodies. The students will uncover the solution to this enigmatic old case but delve into an adventure that will turn into a nightmare.
Harlin's mockumentary makes use of a rich and enduringly interesting theme. Skillful in recreating that aura of mystery typical of cold cases and strong in a sound script (by Vikram Weet), The Devil's Pass offers an inviting glimpse into the events that took place in 1959. Indeed, the beautiful but, at the same time, eerie snowy landscapes serve as an icy backdrop to a fascinating story that incorporates mutations, military experimentation, and time travel.
Ne The Devil's Pass also emerges the willpower on the part of the protagonists (to be admired are the actors and crew who were immersed for days in the snow to shoot the film) in solving the case. Enthusiasm gradually dies down giving way to terror and panic, especially because of the hostile location.
The film is easy to watch and, despite some downtime, manages to keep the audience's attention. Definitely a must-see title for fans of the mysterious "Dyatlov Pass" case.
In the cast: Holly Goss, Matt Stokoe, Luke Albright, Ryan Hawley, Gemma Atkinson, Nikolay Butenin, Nelly Nielsen, Valeriya Fedorovich, Aleksey Kink, Sergey Lobanov, Richard Alan Reid, and Igor Kulachko.
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Distributed by Koch Media, The Devil's Pass is available on DVD and Blu-ray in a limited edition and with an exclusive six-page booklet for the Midnight Factory label. As always the label presents a fine product, the Blu-ray comes with a beautiful slipcase containing the amaray with interior artwork. The audio and video compartment is also remarkable. The extras are rich and interesting: the special "Renny Harlin: a rock'n roll director" (about 29 minutes long), where the director talks about his film career; the "Special: mountains of madness" (12 minutes long), a kind of introduction to The Devil's Pass; the "Behind the Scenes" (9 minutes long) where Renny Harlin, along with the producer and actors, talk about the idea behind the making of the film.
BLU-RAY Technical Data:
Duration: 100 min
Format: 1:1:85; 1080p
Audio: Italian-5.1 DTS HD master audio; English-5.1 DTS HD master audio
Subtitles: Italian
Extras: Trailer; RennyHarlin: A Rock'nRoll Director; Special: Mountains of Madness; Behind the Scenes (50 min)
