Is The Final Terror Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, The Final Terror is likely a skip if you enjoy Horror movies.
It features a runtime of 82 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.

Verdict:The Final Terror is a confirmed FLOP based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 5.0/10, it has delivered a mixed experience for fans of the Horror, Thriller genre.
Answer: Maybe not, The Final Terror is likely a skip if you enjoy Horror movies.
It features a runtime of 82 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1983, The Final Terror emerges as a significant entry in the Horror, Thriller domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A group of friends head out for what is expected to be a vacation of hiking, camping and a good time, but when a backwoods mama finds them on her turf, it becomes anything but a vacation. Unlike standard genre fare, The Final Terror attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Final Terror features a noteworthy lineup led by John Friedrich . Supported by the likes of Adrian Zmed and Daryl Hannah , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Final Terror (1983) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.0/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Quick Plot Summary: The Final Terror is a Horror, Thriller film that crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Breakdown: The Final Terror attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
The final moments of The Final Terror reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Consider Watching If:








Amazon Prime Video
AMC Plus Apple TV Channel
AMC+ Amazon Channel
AMC+
Philo
Shudder
Shudder Amazon Channel
Shudder Apple TV Channel
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
Amazon Video
Amazon VideoAnalyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5/10, and global collection metrics, The Final Terror stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1983 cinematic year.
The Final Terror has received mixed reviews with a 5/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
The Final Terror is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Horror, Thriller movies, but read reviews first.
The Final Terror is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. You can also check for it on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, Philo, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel depending on your region.
***“Deliverance” meets “Friday the 13th” with undeveloped characters*** Some forest workers & friends camp out in the coastal Redwoods of Northern California, but there’s a legend about an escaped female mental patient and her deranged son born of rape. “The Final Terror” (1983) was shot in the Redwoods in late summer 1981 with only four crewmembers. As my title blurb suggests, it’s a meshing of “Deliverance” (1972) and “Friday the 13th.” The sylvan locations are outstanding, the antagonist is well realized and the no-name cast is interesting and diverse. Unfortunately the script failed to develop actual personalities, plus too many of them are unconvincingly unlikable. We don’t know these people nor do we care about ’em. Thankfully, the film improves in the second half as it becomes a survival-in-the-woods tale with a couple original elements, like the way the prey (try to) become the hunters. The movie was shelved for over two years because the producers couldn’t find a distributor. Since the flick only featured three deaths, the opening sequence with the couple getting killed was shot in order to increase its chances of obtaining a distributor. Yet this was done without the director's approval, so the producer had to pay a fee with some of it coming from the director’s wedding at the time. Interestingly, this prologue is one of the more compelling parts of the movie and is highlighted by the only female really worth noting, physically speaking. I’m not saying the other ladies were bad, just that the director evidently didn’t know how to capture the fairer sex on film. Speaking of which, Daryl Hannah (Wendy) and Rachel Ward (Margaret) were unknowns at the time, but moved on to more proficient productions. So did Adrian Zmed (Marco Cerone), but less impressively so. The film runs 1 hour, 22 minutes, and was shot at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in extreme Northern California and the Crescent City area. GRADE: C+
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.