Using fictional talking head interviews and beautiful landscape footage, this pseudo-documentary horror film revolves around outdoor enthusiast Gary Hinge’s mysterious disappearance in the Nevada high desert. His severed hand is later found, still holding his video camera. The police investigation focused on the truck, and a few clues stood out; several fingerprints that did not match Gary’s were discovered along with barefoot footprints that did not match any database.
What Happened To Gary Hinge?
In July 2017, Gary Hinge, a recreational hiker who regularly recorded and uploaded videos of his adventures online, went missing in the Great Basin Desert in Nevada. He had started his adventure in the town of Ruth and headed toward a cottage that he had visited in the past. When he did not return home, his housemate and his sister alerted the police, who launched a search for him. Using GPS technology, they narrowed the search area down to where Gary’s truck was located. However, when they examined the truck, they found numerous fingerprints that did not match his and deemed it a crime scene. They also noticed that the tires were flat and that there was a trail of barefoot footprints. Gary’s cell phone had been turned off shortly after he left his house, so they were unable to track him down with that method.
When the gruesome discovery of his body was made public, people began to speculate on what could have happened to him. Some theories suggested that he was killed by a group of cannibals or was eaten alive by a supernatural creature. Others believed that the disappearance was a result of Area 51, atomic testing, local Indigenous rituals, or satanic groups. Gary’s vlogs had been posted on several websites and his subscriber numbers were growing rapidly. He had been receiving pressure from his subscribers to revisit a cave that he had previously explored and show them the new discoveries.
The film’s ending reveals that Gary was murdered by a monstrous, disfigured stranger. The deformed monster severing Gary’s arm was revealed in the footage retrieved after his disappearance, which had been filmed by a friend of his. Although this footage has not been released, it is rumored to be one of the most disturbing endings in the history of found footage movies. The film has been praised for its eerie atmosphere and the ominous tone that it sets. It is also notable for its inventive twists and the typical tense verisimilitude of found footage films. Although the film does not take itself seriously, it is still effective at delivering a shocking and horrific finale.
Was Gary Hinge Ever Found?
Gary Hinge is a survivalist and outdoor enthusiast who disappeared while hiking in the high desert of Nevada. He regularly published videos of his adventures to a following of some 50,000 people, and his disappearance spurred a massive search operation. But despite weeks of searching, no trace of Gary has been found. Now, a faux documentary film is uncovering new information that suggests he was murdered in the desert. The movie is called Horror in the High Desert and stars actor Eric Mencis as Gary. It follows a reporter, a private investigator, and Gary’s sister as they investigate the case. The film uses a pseudo-documentary format that mimics the style of films like The Blair Witch Project. This technique is used to create a sense of verisimilitude and arouse audience suspicion.
During the investigation, the focus was on finding clues in Gary’s truck, which had been left behind at the campsite where he was last seen. But the authorities quickly discovered that there were multiple fingerprints on the steering wheel and doors that did not match Gary’s. Additionally, the truck was equipped with a GPS unit that had been turned off. Finally, a set of barefoot footprints were uncovered that did not belong to Gary. The investigators were forced to give up and close the case.
However, Gary’s sister Beverly hired a private investigator named Bill Salerno to make sure the case would not be forgotten and dropped. She also lobbied to have it covered frequently in the local news so it would not fade into obscurity. The investigators examined Gary’s backpack, which contained a handheld camera, a notebook, supplies, and his severed hand. Gary had mentioned in a YouTube video that the hand had a strange smell and felt alive. He claimed that he had felt a presence moving around him at night, which caused him to flee the area. Although the film does not mention this, the story is similar to that of YouTube vlogger Kenny Veach, who disappeared after publishing a video about a mysterious cave he had found in 2014. His death was ruled a suicide but his devoted followers believe it was much more sinister.
Was Gary Hinge A Cannibal?
Three years ago Gary Hinge disappeared in the Nevada desert while hiking and recording his experiences on a survival blog. Despite a massive months-long search, no sign of the outdoor enthusiast has been found. Now, a faux documentary crew is tracking down his sister and investigating new evidence that could reveal what really happened to him. Hinge was a man who liked to keep to himself. His solitary lifestyle led him to develop feelings of isolation and rejection, especially given that he was gay in an unsupportive community. Eventually, his interests and quirks caused him to turn to the internet for a sense of belonging and acceptance. His website, which he used to document his hiking and survival adventures under the name Scorpion Sam, became a lifeline. With over fifty thousand followers, he was able to find a group of people who loved his content and looked up to him for his unique perspectives on the world around them.
After one of his hikes, Hinge claimed to have come across a mysterious cabin in the desert that had a terrifying atmosphere and a lingering smell. His followers urged him to return, but he warned that doing so would put their lives at risk. Instead, he posted a video in which he stated that he did not want to divulge the location of the cabin for fear of encouraging others to risk their lives in search of adventure.
Several weeks after his disappearance, campers in White Pine County discovered Hinge’s cleanly-severed hand. While his body was never found, the discovery was enough to reopen the case and send investigators to his last known location. Upon arriving at the spot, they discover that the truck has been moved from its original position. Investigators believe that a person visited the campsite at night and moved the truck to cover their tracks. As they continue to investigate, the crew discovers that a series of fingerprints have been found all over the truck’s interior, especially on the steering wheel. When they are compared to the John Doe’s fingerprints in the database, they do not match Gary’s. Bill Salerno and Gal Roberts then begin scouring Gary’s social media accounts to see what clues might be revealed.
Was Gary Hinge A Ghost?
When Gary Hinge disappeared after returning from a hiking expedition, his sister Beverly reported him missing and the police began an investigation. They narrowed the search area down to a desert cabin where he had visited before, and Gary’s truck was found with numerous fingerprints that did not match his. They also discovered a trail of barefoot footprints, but they could not find Gary’s body. Unlike the case of Kenny Veach, who was a nature YouTuber who went missing after visiting a mysterious cave in Nevada, there were no reports of foul play or supernatural encounters in Hinge’s disappearance. However, this didn’t stop the conspiracy theorists from speculating about Area 51, secret military information, and unknown dark secrets hidden in the desert.
In the end, the truth was revealed. The vlogger had been murdered by a cannibal who had stalked him in the desert. This was a horrifying twist that confirmed many of the viewers’ fears and doubts about the film. While the director of Horror in the High Desert, Dutch Marich, did not allude to the real-life disappearance of Kenny Veach as a motivation for his movie, the similarities are uncanny. Like Hinge, Veach was an outdoor enthusiast who vlogged about his hiking adventures. He was pressured by his followers to revisit a mysterious site that he had visited before. Then, he vanished without a trace.
Conclusion
Although it is not explicitly stated in the movie, Gary’s decision to return to the desert cabin is highly suspect. It would have been easy for him to ignore his followers’ requests and simply publish a video of his journey to the desert. However, it is likely that he was under a lot of pressure to prove himself as a reputable and trustworthy outdoorsman. Regardless of the actual reasons behind Gary’s disappearance, it is clear that the film was designed to scare its audience with its pseudo-documentary style and use of beautiful landscape footage. The long stretches of intimidating emptiness work to create an atmosphere of constant dread, and the horror elements of the movie are well-executed.
