Movies about weed are rarely serious. And they are never scary. Trim Season is about a group of young women who go to a remote marijuana farm to make some quick cash. They soon learn there is much more going on and must escape the mountain in order to survive.
Trim Season is atmospheric, mysterious, and very scary. Things open with a gory scene that lets audiences know this is going to be more than another stoner movie. There is a surprising amount of brutality that is effective each time. This is combined with excellent imagery and lighting. The use of red stands out as does the feeling of helplessness. Though the setting is beautiful, the woods and mountains are shot in a way that is more oppressive than anything else.
Trim Season has a depressing quality to it. The story is populated by unhappy people who have dealt with trauma. Even some of the villains are unsure about what they are doing. Manipulation is a big part of what is happening in this part of the Emerald Triangle, and the effects can be seen.
The film is tightly paced and is constantly moving forward. Its moments of worldbuilding are done with little exposition. Instead, they play out in a way that adds to Trim Season without derailing the narrative. Each scene means something and there is never a dull moment. Even better, when the action picks up, it does not feel rushed.
![[CFF '23] 'Trim Season' review: Marijuana horror film is not all smoke and mirrors](https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Trim-Season-2048x1152.width-800.jpg?resize=740%2C416&ssl=1 "cff 2023, feature")
There are some missteps along the way – Emma (Bethlehem Million, And Just Like That…) should be empathetic but is just annoying, and having a character with a medical condition in which they do not feel pain is silly. Neither takes away from the engagement, however. Trim Season may sound like it is going to be a comedy horror, but it is straight up terror.
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