Quicksand (2023): A Tense, If Flawed, Survival Thriller
Quicksand (2023) is a contained survival thriller directed by Andrés Beltrán and written by Matt Pitts. Set in the lush but dangerous jungles of Colombia, the film centers around a troubled American couple who find themselves literally—and emotionally—stuck in a deadly pit of quicksand. With its minimalist premise and two-person cast, the film attempts to blend psychological drama with physical peril, though not always to equally successful effect.
The story follows Sofia (Carolina Gaitán), a Colombian doctor returning to her home country, and her estranged husband Josh (Allan Hawco), an American. The couple, on the verge of divorce, travel to Colombia for a medical conference. Tension between them is evident from the start—conversations are terse, and their shared history hangs in the air unresolved. Seeking a brief nature hike after the conference, they venture into a rainforest where an unexpected storm leaves them lost and eventually trapped in a pit of quicksand.
From this point forward, the film becomes a survival chamber piece. With no one around to help and no tools within reach, they must use wit, resilience, and strained cooperation to survive. Making things worse, they're stalked by wild animals, including a menacing snake, and must cope with the threat of hypothermia, dehydration, and old emotional wounds resurfacing.
Performance-wise, both actors hold the screen well. Carolina Gaitán portrays Sofia with grit and emotional intensity, bringing a mix of medical knowledge and maternal instinct to the role. Allan Hawco, as Josh, delivers a performance filled with regret, sarcasm, and eventual vulnerability. Their chemistry is believable, and the film’s strongest moments arise when the two confront not just the physical danger, but their failing relationship.
Visually, the film is effective. The jungle environment feels oppressive and isolating. The mud and rain are rendered with tactile realism, and the camera captures the claustrophobic nature of being stuck with nowhere to go. Cinematographer Santiago Otoya uses the limited space wisely, drawing tension from every twitch, sound, and shadow.
However, the film does struggle with pacing and tone. The central premise—two people stuck in quicksand for the majority of the runtime—begins to wear thin despite efforts to escalate the stakes. The emotional dialogue is at times overwrought, and the symbolism of being “stuck” in both mud and marriage feels heavy-handed. The snake encounter, meant to inject action and fear, veers into implausibility and comes off as unintentionally comedic.
While Quicksand is certainly ambitious in trying to merge relationship drama with survival horror, the end result feels more like a concept stretched to its limits. Some viewers will appreciate the tight focus and psychological depth, while others may find the drama too thin to carry the runtime.
In conclusion, Quicksand (2023) is a compact thriller that offers atmosphere and solid performances but struggles to maintain tension throughout. It’s a film about survival on multiple fronts—physical and emotional—but it ultimately feels more like a metaphor than a fully satisfying cinematic experience.
