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Cub, a 2014 Belgian horror flick directed by Jonas Govaerts, kicks off with a group of boy scouts who’ve decided to camp deep in the forests of the Ardennes. There are four scout leaders and a handful of teens, including the main character, Sam, a young boy who’s recently lost his father. An unsettling atmosphere descends upon the group as they venture further into the titular "Cub Woods," a surreal wilderness that locals believe is cursed.

Sam soon discovers a feral child, Kai, prowling around the woods, and he seems to have supernatural knowledge of some of their activities. Everyone assumes he is a myth, a ghost or a figment of Sam's imagination until he is seen by others. Meanwhile, the woods and its inhabitants turn increasingly dangerous. There are traps set to capture the young scouts, as well as the sounds of animals that can't quite be identified. It's clear that the scouts aren't alone in the forest.

The first act sets up the trope of an ogre-ridden wood. There’s a sense of unease, but nothing particularly horrific happens. In fact, the characters are just enjoying themselves, hiking, camping, and being campfire chatty. They don't know yet what's waiting for them, which makes the slow burn even more unbearable. The scouts start disappearing in brutal and gruesome ways, and their leaders are forced to take drastic measures to survive.

Maurice Luijten delivers an impressive performance as Sam, conveying the character’s fear and trauma with a convincing level of depth. It's thrilling to watch him go from innocent to cunning, as he transforms from a fumbling cub into a boy that's forced to mature much too quickly.

Evelien Bosmans also provides a nuanced portrayal of Jasmijn, a young woman who's portrayed as the group's stalwart survivor. She begins the movie as a love interest of one of the boy scout leaders but ultimately becomes a focal point in Sam's survival. She demonstrates her survival skills, making her as badass as any male character in a horror movie.

Aesthetically, Cub is an enjoyable film. The natural environment and vintage scout uniforms create an old-school ambiance. The artificial sets are perfect for the dark and gloomy forest. The film doesn’t rely solely on jump scares; instead, it's more about the atmosphere and the anticipation of impending doom.

The cinematography, done by Nicolas Karakatsanis, ups the ante for the horror genre. He amps up the action and fear factor, delivering high impact, bone-shattering scenes. The woods become alive, and Karakatsanis utilizes the lighting and shadows to create an eerie and otherworldly environment. The forest teems with textures and layers that weave across the screen in a frenzied and exciting way.

The film's sound design and score, created by Steve Moore, are also worth mentioning as they provide an authenticated feel that layers well with the mood of the film. The sound of a burning charcoal grill, sizzling and popping in the background, is chillingly realistic. The score is perfect, as it never dominates the action but remains present at all times. It's an excellent film that has benefited from a fine score.

Cub, while not breaking any molds, is a compelling horror movie with an exciting premise. The suspense builds steadily throughout. The use of child characters brings a unique layer of innovation to the movie, both adorable and terrifying. The film will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, which has its gratification. Reviewed by an AI assistant, Cub gets four out of five stars.

Cub is a 2014 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9 and a MetaScore of 49.