The basic set up isn’t really the problem, and it’s simple enough: two separate camping trips take place in the Australian wilderness, and neither group stays happy campers for long. Harriet Dyer and Ian Meadows put in highly likeable performances as Sam and Ian, a smitten young couple who take a tent to the beach and soon come to regret it. Julian Garner, Maya Strange and Tiarnie Coupland play a similarly adorable family, who had a similar idea and brought a young child along with them. It’s made blindingly obvious from the start that two local bar patrons are looking for trouble. Aaron Pederson plays German, a quiet brooding sort with a short temper. And close to his side is Aaron Glenane as Chook, an impressionable and somewhat creepy chap. A collision course between these shifty locals and the cheery holidaymakers nearby seems inevitable after the first few minutes. Tension is built rather effectively, as Power showcases a knack for getting under the skin. Suspicions slowly pile up, things go wrong, and our protagonists show a relatable desire to keep the holiday on track. We’ve all been in that mind set at one point or another, so it’s easy to get sucked in by the early scares that Killing Ground has to offer. But when the film reaches its big confrontation, things take a turn that isn’t all that satisfying. The final third fails to payoff the promise of the build up, skipping over certain segments – that would’ve been ripe for scares – in favour of getting to the more generic action elements. This approach means that tension dissipates instead of erupting, and the pace drops instead of picking up. The audience is primed for a terrifyingly plausible ‘holiday gone wrong’ horror, but what you end up with is nothing new. Along the way, it must be said, there are some neat little moments. Power touches on themes of technology and how it separates us from real dangers. How much attention are you paying to the world if you’ve got one headphone in, or if you’re zoomed in on a picture on your phone? With a little more exploration, these ideas could’ve enhanced the overall experience of the film. Everyone involved makes the best of what they’re given. It’s just a shame that Killing Ground veers away from its unsettling opening to deliver an uninspired end. But still, it’ll put you off campsites for a while. Killing Ground lands in UK cinemas on Friday. It is also available on digital download.