The Outwaters

Four friends head into a remote stretch of the Mojave desert to shoot a music video, led by a filmmaker from Los Angeles. Their trip starts quietly, though odd sounds, vibrations and strange animal behavior unsettle the group before one night changes everything and pulls them into a world of extreme horror.

The Outwaters is a 2023 American found-footage horror film written and directed by Robbie Banfitch, who also appears in front of the camera alongside Angela Basolis, Scott Schamell, Michelle May, Leslie Ann Banfitch and Christine Brown. It was produced by Beau James and Banfitch through Fathom Film Company and 5100 Films. Running 110 minutes, it blends horror, mystery, science fiction and thriller elements.

Banfitch made his feature debut with The Outwaters, followed by Tinsman Road in 2025. Reception was divided. The film critics' rating stands at 6.9/10 from 69 reviews, while audiences were considerably less enthusiastic: on IMDb it holds 3.8/10 from around 5,400 votes, and on TMDB 4.4/10 from about 100 votes. That gap suggests a film that found more favor among reviewers than among general viewers.