Horror in the High Desert (2021) is a pseudo-documentary film about outdoor enthusiast and survivalist Gary Hinge. The movie stars Eric Mencis as Gary, who disappeared in the Nevada desert while on a hiking expedition. His severed hand was found by campers.
While Hinge is enthusiastic and respectful of the spaces he maps, a ghost from the area’s past may view him as an intruder who must be stopped. The movie features references to abandoned mine tunnels and Native American artifacts.
What Happened to Gary Hinge?
A survivalist hiker named Gary Hinge disappeared in the desert near New Ruth, Nevada in 2017. His disappearance was a big mystery, and the documentary focuses on what might have happened to him. Gary was an experienced outdoorsman who regularly traveled into the desert on survival quests for days at a time and blogged about his experiences. He was a quiet guy who kept to himself and was an expert at self-sufficiency. On one expedition, he claimed that he saw a figure moving around his tent at night and fled scared. He didn’t offer any evidence and was ridiculed online for his claim. The pressure to come up with something solid made him promise to return to the area and investigate the incident.
While Dutch Marich doesn’t explicitly allude to the 2014 disappearance of YouTuber Kenny Veach, the similarities between the two cases are uncanny. Veach, who went by the name snakebitmgee, was an active member of hiking content communities and, like Hinge, was pressured by his devoted fanbase to revisit a mysterious find in order to prove that he was telling the truth. Unlike Hinge, Veach didn’t vanish due to supernatural events or malicious actions but was apparently murdered in an abandoned mine.
The movie starts out with a mockumentary format and employs all the tropes of that style (breathless statements, teasing teases, over-dramatic build-ups) but ends up delivering a creepy climax. It also features some inventive, if not scary, twists, including a private investigator uncovering some of Gary’s secret life in the town.
After several days passed without any word from Gary, his roommate Simon and sister Beverly hired a private detective to conduct a thorough investigation into what had happened to him. They interviewed people who knew him and uncovered some of his personal journals. From these documents, it became clear that Gary had gone out into the desert to investigate a shack that he had discovered on a previous survival trip. When he didn’t return, they began to lose hope and stopped reporting on the case. Gary’s tendency to travel with the bare essentials left him vulnerable to the weather, wildlife, and abandoned mining pits.
Was Gary Hinge Ever Found?
In the film, Gary Hinge disappeared while hiking in the Nevada High Desert. He had a large following on social media and was well-known for his love of nature and survival skills. He left a few videos of his travels before his disappearance, and when he failed to return, people became concerned. They contacted his family and the police, but there was no trace of him. Investigators began looking into his disappearance, and they found that there was something suspicious about his truck. It had a broken rear window and a set of barefoot footprints that did not match Gary’s. Several fingerprints were also found on the truck, but they did not match anyone in the database.
The film follows the investigation into Hinge’s disappearance by a reporter, a private investigator, and Gary’s sister. It also includes footage from one of his YouTube vlogs. The movie is a pseudo-documentary, and the narrative is told through talking heads interviews and fake found footage. It builds up the mystery of what happened to Gary, and the final reveal is shocking.
While the film is a mockumentary, it does evoke true feelings of horror and fear. The story is based on a real person who disappeared while hiking, and the similarities between this case and Hinge’s are uncanny. The real-life person, Kenny Veach, was an explorer who claimed to have found a cave that looked just like the one in the movie. He was an expert in the area and had many followers on his YouTube channel, so his disappearance sparked panic among fans.
Veach’s disappearance was a lot more mysterious than Hinge’s, but the ending of Horror in the High Desert sparked speculation that he may have been murdered. The movie’s open ending leaves it up to viewers to decide if his attacker was a supernatural figure protecting a sacred spot, or if the killer simply wanted to keep him from revealing its secrets. The movie’s eerie atmosphere and dark lighting make it an effective thriller, and the final twist is enough to shock anyone.
Was Gary Hinge a Cannibal?
In the last video he posted before disappearing, Gary can be seen on a camera from his home, narrating a very unusual experience that left him deeply disturbed: during his last excursion, he had been hiking in an unknown area when he smelled smoke and followed it to a dilapidated cabin that looked abandoned but was actually occupied. Upon entering, he was able to see a human silhouette moving toward him and the feeling of imminent danger led him to flee.
The next day, his housemate Simon Rodgers reported him missing and a search was conducted in the Great Basin Desert. Several leads were investigated, but Gary never turned up. It was later revealed that Gary had been taking survivalist trips to the wilderness with a very bare minimum of supplies, relying on nature for everything he needed. It was also revealed that he had a fascination with trains and a passion for collecting artifacts from historic railway stations.
Bill Salerno, a documentary producer and one of Gary’s friends, started to investigate the case. He uncovered that the man who lived in Gary’s home had a connection to the railroad and was able to uncover several records that confirmed that the house was sold to this person. He also discovered that the man had a criminal record and that he had been arrested for illegally possessing firearms.
Another interesting find was the fact that the hand that had been found in the wilderness belonged to Gary, which was a significant piece of evidence as it indicated that the death was not a robbery or a random act of violence. However, no other fingerprints were matched with those found on the truck, which further complicated the investigation.
Despite numerous leads and a huge months-long police search, Gary Hinge was never found. His family and friends are still searching for him. Some have even been stricken with grief over the loss. Regardless, many people continue to speculate about what happened to Gary, including theories that he was killed by a supernatural creature or a cannibal.
Was Gary Hinge a Ghost?
Gary Hinge was an outdoors enthusiast who lived in the town of Ruth, Nevada. He was a quiet man who often ventured into the wilderness to explore and document his expeditions. He was a well-known influencer on YouTube who had many followers and supporters. However, one of his adventures took a turn when he disappeared while hiking in the desert. After his disappearance, people searched for him but were unable to find any trace of him.
The film focuses on the investigation of his disappearance by a reporter (Suziey Block) and an investigator (David Morales). They interview Hinge’s friends and family members to find out what happened to him. They also review his social media posts to see what he was planning before his disappearance. It is soon revealed that Gary was planning to return to a mysterious cabin in the desert that he had visited previously.
It is then that the movie turns into a found footage horror thriller. As Gary begins his journey back to the mystery cabin, it is clear that he is being stalked by something or someone. He explains in his video that he can feel something lurking in the darkness. This feeling is confirmed when he hears a noise that sounds like chanting or throat singing. It is hard to describe but it definitely makes Gary very uneasy and frightened.
As he continues on his trek to the cabin, Gary’s videos become more and more disturbing. He reveals that he can hear a voice in the distance that is calling his name. As he gets closer to the cabin, he can also smell smoke and feels a sense of impending doom. He eventually calls out for help but does not get a response.
As the days go by, Gary’s family grows more and more anxious about his whereabouts. His sister calls the police and they begin to investigate his disappearance. They find his truck and a severed hand in the desert but are unable to find any trace of him. They then contact the couple who were camping near the area where he was last seen and are told that they have found his backpack.
