Do you have anything to declare?

Title: Territories
Date: 2010
Synopsis: On their way home from a wedding, five young people are stopped by two border control officers. At first things seem fairly normal, passport checks etc. Soon enough things take a twist and the five people become victims to these sick, and twisted cops. Welcome to America!

Wow, I didn't think much of the first forty minutes of this film. But it quickly spiralled into a masterpiece. Screen at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, it's sure to have you clinging to the very edge of your seat in anticipation. However, it's slow-building, and like a decent roast you have to give it time.

The five friends consist of Jalil, who is suspected of being a terrorist, Michelle (his girlfriend and a criminal lawyer), Leslie, Gab and sixteen year old asthmatic and mute Tom. Once 'arrested' they're forced to strip and dress in green jump suits before being lead deep into the forest to a special 'prisoner camp'. It is here that the group realise that what is happening is bigger than just border control and much more serious.

We're never told as the audience if these are the first victims of the cops. One is terminally ill, and the evident brains of the operation, the other is the slightly dumb wingman. But keen to stay clear of making this duo the usual, predictable gruesome twosome, it transpires that in the early 90's the dumb sidekick saved the life of the other, and now takes care of him and his illness. Making their friendship solid, to the point where they each depend on one another.

The group are subjected to torture techniques that include being branded, being left in a cage without food or water for three days, being stripped and left in a padded room with blaring music and two stobe lights and being made to jog on the spot and keep painful positions for hours all under the relentless eye of the cops.

Interrogation has played its part in many films, but none quite so uncomfortable as in Territories. The smarter of the two cops enjoys nothing more than playing a game of cat and mouse and having complete control of his detainees, he breaks them down piece by piece, even going to far as to turn the group on each other. There seems little hope for escape, and after Tom's failed escape he is left with a gaping wound where he was taken down by the cops dogs, leaves the rest of the group reluctant to attempt it.

Their last hope comes in the form of a private investigator. It's the introduction of this man, and his story in the last quarter of the film that was the only thing I can fault. It seemed a little rushed considering his story is quite complex, and at such a late stage I didn't feel it was adequately told. Just at the point where he stumbles across the container where the group are being kept, there's a glimmer of hope. Sadly it is dashed and the PI meets his sticky, handcuffed inside his car, and pushed into a lake while he listens to his dead daughter singing on his handheld recorder.

The ending is grim, reminiscent of Jeepers Creepers, a film that despite not being all that scary had an end that just burned itself into your retinas forever. Territories isn't exactly what you'd call scary, but it is a great film. Extremely well made and despite the wobbly camera work a-la-Blair Witch it has everything you could hope for in a film of its genre. Realistic looking wounds, solid acting all around and that dull colour that can only spell doom. 9/10.

Until next time, film fans. Don't forget your passport....