When it comes to potentially terrifying locations, a tent in the middle of nowhere is pretty tough to beat. The au naturale horror film Backcountry may not be terribly complex, but the notes that it does hit are impressively stark and scary.

Inspired by true events, the story follows an out-of-their-element couple (Missy Peregrym and Nicholas Campbell) spending a weekend deep in the Canadian wilderness. As the pair’s feelings toward each other alternate between hot and cold, they fail to notice the increasing—and distressingly large—signs that they may not be alone. Things progress from there, in a fashion that should make Werner Herzog’s ears burn.

First-time director Adam MacDonald lays his premise out in clean lines, with an impressive use of space and a knack for shifting from foreboding to realistically gory. His established mood is greatly aided by solid performances from the lead couple, who remain likable even in the worst of times.

With little in the way of frills to distract from the central grim conflict (Eric Balfour, traditionally an indie film irritant, is briefly creepy/hilarious here as a wandering alpha male), MacDonald’s back-to-basics approach successfully scratches that primal itch, with some genuinely tense results. Uncomplicated isn’t always a bad thing.