Note: Starting in January 2025, we began publishing long-form DVD reviews written by GFPL staffers. The DVDs are all available to check out at the Library, or from one of our Partner Libraries. We post a new review each month! Come back next month to find the next review.
Slash/Back is an authentic, coming-of-age indie horror film well worth a watch
Review by DJ, Library Specialist
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on the margins of society at the periphery of the world? And then within this very specific situation, to resist an invasion of blood sucking aliens? If you answered yes to either of these questions, Slash/Back may be the film for you.
The feature directorial debut of Nyla Innuksuk, Slash/Back received a limited theatrical release in the Fall of 2022. A science fiction horror movie with a generous dose of comedy, Slash/Back is set in Pangnirtung, known to the locals as Pang. This hamlet of around 1,500 people lies less than 30 miles South of the Arctic Circle in the Canadian Territory of Nunavut. The film brilliantly uses this unique setting to follow the daily routine of four teenage Inuit girls, until everything in their lives very quickly moves far beyond the routine.
On a sunny summer day, friends Maika, Uki, Jesse, and Leena are exploring the stark beauty of their home on the edge of Baffin Island, replete with ocean views, immense mountains, and scenic fiords. The girls discuss technology, the limits of their opportunities, and family issues, including the folly common to some of the adults they rely on most. And like so many young people, they dream of escaping to somewhere else, even if it is only to Winnipeg! The girls also talk about traditions essential to Inuit culture, specifically seal hunting, which serves them well when their excursion is first interrupted by what appears to be a polar bear. A bear might not be an unusual sight in their part of the world, but this particular creature turns out to be something much more sinister. For as the girls quickly discover, an alien organism has arrived in Pang, where it is killing and reanimating both local wildlife and people in an attempt to take over the town. As for what ensues, perhaps the movie poster says it best, “These aliens messed with the wrong girls!”
Slash/Back revels in its independent spirit and one-of-a-kind setting. Principal filming actually took place in Pangnirtung, and the area’s natural beauty consistently provides a stunning backdrop. But an argument can be made that the film benefits most from its youthful cast, with the four main roles played by locals with little or no previous acting experience.
There is wonderful interplay between the characters, with the personality of each girl proving both well developed and engaging. These personalities range from the indomitable Maika, who cannot wait to get away from Pang, to the brave but mischievous Uki, who loves her hometown and reveres its cultural inheritance.
The film leans heavily into the more sci-fi and comedic aspects of the story, and will not provide much in the way of scares to a seasoned horror fan. But what it lacks in fright, Slash/Back more than makes up for with a compelling coming-of-age narrative. At times the film’s budgetary limits are also apparent, however even the less-than-polished effects can be easily forgiven considering its aforementioned charms. Hearing the Inuit dialect of Pangnirtung spoken throughout the film emerges as another highlight, as well as seeing the Inuit Syllabary on screen. Some traditional Inuit Arts similarly take pride of place, namely sculptures, paintings, and woven objects. And was I moved when the girls decided to embrace their cultural heritage to fight the Big Bad? That would be a resounding Yes! If Slash/Back sounds like the type of film that interests you, then I suggest you sit down with a bowl of popcorn, or maybe even some mamaqtuq “Country Food”, and enjoy a delightful and authentic cinematic experience.
