Kids and aliens interacting on screen is nothing new. Whilst the likes of ET and Mac and Me told gentle tales of friendship, others have ventured into darker territory. The most notable of these more extreme encounters has to be Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block. Cornish’s film saw teens from a London Borough attempt to save the world from alien invaders. A blend of comedy, science-fiction, and horror, Attack the Block has become somewhat of a cult classic with a sequel currently in the works. For those unable to wait though, I suggest seeking out Nyla Innuksuk’s Slash/Back.
Set in Pangnirtung, a small northern hamlet in the Arctic Ocean, Slash/Back follows Maika (Tasiana Shirley) and her friends as they battle with shape-shifting aliens. The first film to be shot on location in Pangnirtung, Slash/Back offers a glimpse into island life before introducing the sci-fi aspects of the story. A small close-knit community, Pangnirtung – or Pang as the girls call it – has a slow and gentle pace. Life on the Pang is monotonous and lacks the excitement that teenagers crave. Needing to create their own entertainment, Maika and her friends venture out to practise their hunting. Whilst on their hunt, they find a polar bear acting strangely. The creature attacks one of the group and in doing so reveals its otherworldly origins. It’s a clever introduction, and one that happens very early on, leaving plenty of time for chaos to ensue.
Once returned from their encounter, the girls share the news with the other kids and teens in the village. Their stories are treated as just that – works of fiction – and even the group themselves argue about the nature of the thing they encountered. It isn’t long before the threat arrives on their doorstep though and the group must arm themselves to rescue their home. Despite being a film with young protagonists, Innuksuk doesn’t hold back on the gore of violence. The initial bear attack is horrifying, especially as its fury is wrought on the youngest group member. Then, as the invading species pushes into town and starts replicating its inhabitants, things get really gross. The creature designs are mightily impressive and whilst the plot might be Attack the Block in snow, the appearance of the aliens are a straight riff on John Carpenter’s The Thing.
Whereas Attack the Block and The Thing had an abundance of male characters, Slash/Back is all about its female characters. These are some tough girls though and the invading creatures have definitely picked the wrong crew to mess with. Fiercely loyal to one another, this is a core group that is as bonded at The Goonies. They look out for and support one another one hundred percent and that’s important to see. Girls are always pitted against each other, especially in films, reinforcing the concept that women have to be in competition with others that share their gender. As the years have gone by, this damaging trope has become insufferable and to finally see the tides starting to change is welcome.
The friends are not perfect, a spat over the local hottie being one such example, but even this is handled with respect and maturity. All of these aspects of the group make them a great example for younger audiences, and though grim in places, Slash/Back would make a brilliant gateway horror for those of a certain age.
Slash/Back
Summary
A careful balance of comedy, horror, science-fiction, and friendship, Slash/Back is joyfully entertaining. The hook of Attack the Block meets The Thing with a Goonies’ level committed group is sure to entice many, but Slash/Back has plenty of its own voice to stand apart from its influences.
Slash/Back was reviewed at Brooklyn Horror Festival. Slash/Back arrives in US cinemas and on VOD and Digital October 21, 2022. Slash/Back will get its UK premiere at Soho Horror Film Festival in November.
