Go North (2017)

Go North stands out because it treats its post-catastrophe premise with a surprising sincerity: instead of flashy apocalypse theatrics, it builds a believable, lived-in world where power, fear, and hope feel uncomfortably real. The film has an indie, boots-on-the-ground vibe—part coming-of-age, part survival thriller—with romance and longing woven in like a quiet heartbeat beneath the tension. Its creativity shows in the way it uses landscape and light, delivering striking cinematography that makes the journey feel both expansive and intimate. It can be a little rough around the edges, but if you’re drawn to earnest genre stories that aim for emotion and atmosphere over polish, this one is easy to root for.

Go North is clearly aiming for a gritty, post-catastrophe coming-of-age trek with a dash of romance and a cat-and-mouse thriller chase, and the setup has the bones of a solid survival story. The problem is the execution: the writing often feels clunky and familiar, and the performances don’t consistently sell the stakes, which makes the world and its “adult-free” power dynamics feel thinner than they should. If you’ve seen stronger teen-dystopia or post-apocalypse films, you may find this one derivative and a bit sluggish, especially if you need sharp dialogue and rich character depth to stay engaged. That said, if you’re forgiving about rough edges and just want a straightforward, low-budget genre ride with some outdoor atmosphere and momentum, you might still get a modest kick out of it.