The Ruck March (2025)—Terror and Laughs in the High Desert!
Who doesn’t enjoy a nice, relaxing hike? Exploring nature’s beauty, testing your cardio and endurance, getting lost out in the boonies with some guy you’ve never met before and eating worms. Ok, maybe not the last two parts. That is, unless you signed up for a 16 hour challenge out in the desert hosted by a shady guy. Oddly specific? Well, it should be. Directed by Michael Rock, The Ruck March addresses the very real dangers and consequences of blindly trusting strangers.
Two friends, Alannah (played by Natalie Hurt) and Emily (played by Amanda Morgan) participate in a free 16 hour ruck march out in the desert. Before the march begins, everyone is briefly interviewed by Mac (played by Blake Hyer), the event’s cameraman. Finally, the Ruck March’s host, Bray (played by Michael Rock), reveals certain caveats for the march: no phones, watches or food for the entirety of the 16 hours. Despite some unease from the participants, they comply. But as the group continues to march past dark, they soon realize that their group seems a bit smaller. Some of them have mysteriously vanished.
For those who recognize Michael Rock from his various collaborations with Horror Dadz Productions and his directorial debut, know that he is a former U.S. Army Green Beret. But what most don’t know is that he used to also run a side gig where he’d teach regular folks necessary survival skills. Now before you yawn, this isn’t your typical scouts program (and trust me when I say those are tough already). What you see in the movie is pretty similar to how Rock ran things in his program. Well, save for maybe the entire third act. And to make the film feel much more authentic, Rock actually hired several of the folks he worked with and taught alongside the actors.
Speaking of which, I was pretty impressed with the acting. Michael Rock channels his inner Tyler Durden from Fight Club as Bray, playing him as a deranged cult leader. Unlike Rock’s roles in The Flock, Ghost and the Tahoe Joe films, Bray is anything but heroic and kind. He’s almost the epitome of a sadistic asshole (but at least he’s not a Neo Nazi). Michael Rock does a great job using his facial expressions to give the viewer a glimpse into the madness that is to come. Meanwhile, Amanda Morgan and Natalie Hurt are extremely convincing as close friends, making the dialogue seem completely natural. I really love the scenes near the beginning where the two were training for the Ruck March. You can easily tell the two are having fun with them and their chemistry is on point!
If I have to compare The Ruck March to another movie starring Michael Rock, I’d easily compare it to the first Tahoe Joe. Now I know what you might be thinking: how does The Ruck March compare to Tahoe Joe? Well, allow me to explain. Both films have a lighthearted and humorous tone for the first two thirds of their run times. The last third, however, is balls-to-the –wall insane. However unlike Tahoe Joe, I found The Ruck March’s ending to be humorously black rather than downright terrifying. Unfortunately, it also raises more questions than tying up loose ends. For example, even though the event is free, Bray mentions that he and Mac are getting paid. How exactly are they getting paid? Who’s paying them? We never find out.
Despite this, The Ruck March does create an aura of dread similar to the second Tahoe Joe. Michael Rock does this by taking these wide, panning drone shots to capture the scale of the environment. But even though you see everything, it still doesn’t bring any reassurance to you. As the hikers are trekking up the rocky, mountainous desert, you could feel something nefarious is lurking just in the beyond. Seeing this group without their phones or smartwatches, completely cut off from society is terrifying. Anything can happen and no one would come looking for them. The film’s use of close-ups on Rock’s face is just the icing on top, making the viewer question Bray and his true intentions and keeping them on their toes.
For those who enjoyed Tahoe Joe, you’ll have a fun time with The Ruck March. Despite similar plot structures, the latter adopts a slightly more serious tone while still managing to make you laugh every now and then. But just when you start feeling comfortable is when it all goes south. Although not every plot thread was neatly tied up, it’s still an effectively enjoyable ride. While it isn’t as thematically heavy as The Murder of the Monster, it’s not supposed to be. With strong performances from its cast and a humorously horrific tone, Michael Rock has another hit under his directorial belt. Make sure to sit through from beginning to end to witness the full experience!
