"A Bleak, Inventive Survival Thriller That Embraces the Chaos"

Another intriguing feature presented at October’s London Independent Film Festival, Jake Carter’s UNDER THE BYPASS is an effective, mean-spirited survival thriller that demonstrates just how much can be achieved with limited resources and a willingness to embrace unconventional filmmaking.

Shot on smartphones, UNDER THE BYPASS immediately establishes a distinctive visual identity, with its unconventional production approach lending the film an interesting aesthetic that complements its bleak setting.

The story follows three friends, Sophia (Anna Ivankovic), Benny (Sonny Jaiteh) and Chris (Alec Robinson), as they navigate a desolate landscape in a desperate attempt to survive.

Think The Last of Us, but with fewer people, fewer factions and a considerably more isolated atmosphere.

It’s a simple premise, but one that allows Carter to concentrate on the characters and the increasingly unpredictable circumstances they encounter.

What impressed me most about UNDER THE BYPASS was its willingness to embrace the chaos.

This isn’t a film that sets out to make its audience comfortable. There’s a deliberate nastiness to its atmosphere, and that becomes an important part of its identity.

Rather than resisting that approach, the best way to experience the film is to surrender to the journey and allow Carter to take you wherever the narrative leads.

The performances from Ivankovic, Jaiteh and Robinson help anchor the story, providing the human element needed to make its desolate world engaging.

The technical achievement is equally noteworthy.

Shooting a feature on smartphones presents its own creative and practical challenges, but Carter and his team use the format to establish a visual style that feels appropriate to the film rather than merely a consequence of its production resources.

The result is an effective demonstration of how accessible filmmaking technology can be used to tell an ambitious story.

And then there’s the ending.

Without revealing anything, I’ll simply say that UNDER THE BYPASS is bleak by design, and the filmmakers aren’t interested in softening that approach to provide an easy sense of comfort.

It’s a decision that feels entirely consistent with the world they’ve established.

At the same time, there’s something undeniably enjoyable about the film’s unpredictability. For all its darkness, I found it a surprisingly fun experience.

Its brisk runtime certainly helps, ensuring that the story maintains momentum without overstaying its welcome.

All in all, UNDER THE BYPASS is a bleak but entertaining survival thriller, elevated by strong performances and an impressive technical approach.

Jake Carter and his creative team have delivered an inventive independent feature that keeps audiences guessing throughout.

I’ll certainly be interested to see what they tackle next.

Reviewed as part of the October 2026 London Independent Film Festival.