As you may gather, this isn’t a horror film in the traditional sense unless you count a man senselessly slaughtering his wife and one of his children (then, seemingly unable to live with his actions, killing himself) as horror. Actually, given the subject matter of The Ravine, coupled with the fact that it’s based on a book by co-writer/producer Robert Pascuzzi detailing his own personal experience, I’d say technically speaking it’s 100% horror.

However, if you’re looking for restless ghosts, hatchet-wielding zombies, or walls drenched in the blood of innocents then this intense drama probably isn’t what you’re after. This isn’t to say there’s none of that sort of thing (zombies excepted); there are some bloody, violent scenes (trigger warning: domestic abuse) and a tinge of the supernatural, but really this film’s focus is on the spiritual rather than the paranormal. The tragic theme of loss by such sudden, unforeseeable means, and the subsequent struggles of all those affected are expertly, heartbreakingly rendered; this isn’t an easy watch for anyone with a soul.

Directed by Keoni Waxman and co-written by Robert and Kelly Pascuzzi (who also co-produced along with Phillip B. Goldfine), The Ravine tells the tale of Mitch Bianci (Eric Dane), his wife Carolyn (Teri Polo) and their children, long-term best friends of Danny Turner (Peter Facinelli), his wife Rachel (Cynthia Evans), and their two sons, for all of whom life seems to be rattling along just fine. Until, that is, Danny suddenly and inexplicably murders Rachel and one of their sons before taking his own life. Distraught and confused, Mitch and Carolyn struggle to move forward, crushed by grief and shock, until certain events prompt them to view their situation from a different angle.

Being the dedicated little reviewer I am, I always like to take a look at a wide range of other viewer’s opinions on the films I’m sent, which for this seem to be strung out along a scale between disappointment that it’s not the detective story they’d expected, and dim views of the focus on the friends of the dead rather than their remaining family. The aspects of faith and forgiveness as tools in the pursuit of acceptance and inner peace were also rather sadly maligned.

I didn’t see it that way, and couldn’t help but feel that many were missing the point somewhat. If you go into it with no preconceptions, you may find it an interesting angle on how far-reaching the effects of such an event can be, as well as how each individual’s grief is a very personal thing, and as such cannot be dictated to in terms of how it can be accepted and hopefully overcome.

The Ravine is a sensitively handled tale of bravery in the face of that which cannot be changed, and the strengths a person can be capable of; valuable especially when considering there’s few things more centrally important to one’s wellbeing than inner peace.

7.5 Out Of 10 Spiritual Journeys