The Sacred (2009)

A group of archaeology students working on their thesis ( travel to a remote area and stop at a bar where they've heard they can hire a guide.  When they mention where they're headed, the bartender warns them off and no one is willing to help them.  Eventually a large wad of cash persuades a hulking beast of a man to offer his services. But he adds several more warnings against going and will only take them down river to within a few miles of their destination due to the curse.

What's that?  A curse, you say?  Just once I'd like to see a group of kids that didn't ignore a warning from a stranger.  When you mention your destination and an entire bar room full of people stops what they're doing and turns to look at you, you may want to rethink your plans.  Sure the curse or legend may be bunk, but maybe there's some valid reason that it's not safe to go there. No one ever considers that possibility when they're ignoring the creepy stranger's warning.

Our ill prepared students (shouldn't you make sure you can actually get to your destination before planning an overnight trip?) are taken down river to some old canoes that they can use to finish their journey.  Their guide insists that they leave the area before sunset. You see they are entering a land of judgement.  Those who enter the grounds must be pure of heart. Otherwise they are punished for their sins, no matter how small. In other words, absolutely NO ONE should ever go there.

Oh stupid kids, as if the warning isn't enough, they use Shaman's magic tools on sacred land - the same sacred land that legends say were used to punish sinners. Argh!  Don't, kids, just don't.  But as you can guess, they don't listen to reason and soon there is vengeance a-flippin' and a-flyin' all over the place. Because not only are these students sinners of the worst kind - seriously, what are the odds they're all horrible people? -  but after seeing their pasts transgressions, you'll want them dead (even though you won't care that much about them before).

Now I would be remiss in forgetting to mention the scene with the old movie projector, (the type used in schools in the 60's/70's.) The whole scene bugs me.

1. The isolated, abandoned camp that you reach by boat still has electricity.
2. The guy knows how to thread the movie projector. 
3. He shows the film outside during the day.
4. The film has footage of them arriving on the island.
5. He tells no one??!  How could he not mention it?!