Preservation (2014)

“Man is the only animal that kills for fun.”

Preservation is a chilling psychological horror thriller directed by Christopher Denham. With tension rising from the very first scene, the film explores how quickly civilization fades when fear and violence take over. Blending survival horror with psychological mind games, it turns a weekend trip into a fight for life.

A Hunting Trip Gone Wrong

Wit (Wrenn Schmidt), her husband Mike (Aaron Staton), and his brother Sean (Pablo Schreiber) head into a remote nature preserve. Each of them hopes to escape from their own personal struggles. They ignore the warnings that the park is closed and set up camp, expecting peace and quiet.

But the next morning, everything changes.

Their gear is gone. Their phones are missing. And black Xs have been drawn on their foreheads while they slept.

From Campfire to Kill Zone

Panic sets in. Trust starts to break. The trio turns on each other, not knowing they are already being hunted. Hidden enemies stalk them through the woods, turning the once-tranquil forest into a deadly battleground.

As tensions rise, it’s Wit—quiet, observant, and underestimated—who begins to shift. A trained anesthesiologist, she must dig deep to find her instincts and confront the terror surrounding them.

Why the Film Stands Out

• Slow-Burn Suspense: Builds dread through atmosphere, not jump scares.

• A Psychological Edge: Focuses on paranoia, survival, and the breakdown of trust.

• Wrenn Schmidt’s Breakout Role: A tense, grounded performance as a woman pushed to the edge.

Release and Reception

Preservation premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2014. It was released in the U.S. on January 9, 2015. While it holds a modest 4.8/10 rating on IMDb, it has gained attention for its cinematography, minimalist tension, and haunting tone. Some critics noted its predictable elements, but horror fans will find value in its primal themes and eerie setting.

Preservation is more than a survival film—it’s a stark look at how thin the line is between hunter and hunted. For those who enjoy stripped-down, tense thrillers with a psychological bite, this one is worth watching.