| The Trail | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Der Pfad | |
| Directed by | Stefan Müller |
| Screenplay by | Stefan Müller Martin Kroissenbrunner |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Stefan Müller |
| Edited by | Stefan Müller |
| Music by | Ryan Taubert Michael Vignola |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Fly Oli |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes34 |
| Country | Austria5 |
| Language | German6 |
The Trail (German: Der Pfad) is a 2024 Austrian science fiction horror film written and directed by Stefan Müller. The film stars Sophia Grabner as a traumatised woman who sets out on a solitary hike in the Alps and encounters an alien threat.13
Plot
After a lengthy hospital stay, Anna hikes alone through a remote mountain landscape to confront her trauma and fears. She notices signs of an unexplained incident in the wilderness, and the trek turns into a fight for survival when an otherworldly presence intrudes on the trail.27
Cast
- Sophia Grabner as Anna
- Corinna Pumm as Sophia's mother
- Julia Foidl as Sophia
- Oliver Haas as Sophia's father
- Paul Hassler as Hiker No. 1
- Stefan Schnuderl as Stranger3
Production
Müller co-wrote the screenplay with Martin Kroissenbrunner and also served as the film's cinematographer and editor.6 Principal photography took place largely in Styria, including forest and mountain locations.8
Release
The Trail opened in Austrian cinemas on 24 October 2024.1 In September 2025, the Film Commission Graz announced that the film had become available on Amazon Prime Video in over 15 countries.9
Reception
In its 2025 VOD review, L’Écran Fantastique judged the film uneven but praised its staging and alpine landscapes, noting its near-silent approach aside from vocalisations and sound effects.6 Writing for Spielemagazin.de, the reviewer emphasised the film's minimal dialogue and focus on atmosphere and imagery, calling it an unusual Austrian genre entry blending nature observation with science-fiction horror elements.7
References
References
- Schedl, Franco (17 October 2024). ""The Trail"-Trailer: SciFi-Thriller aus Österreich". film.at. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- "The Trail". Hollywood Megaplex. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- "The Trail (2024) - Cast & Crew". AllMovie. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- "The Trail". Prime Video. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- "The Trail (2024) - Synopsis, Movie Info". AllMovie. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- "EN VOD : The Trail". L'Écran Fantastique. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- "The Trail Review – Selbsterkenntnis, Stille und kosmischer Schrecken". Spielemagazin.de. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- "Sci-Fi made in Styria: Steirischer Filmemacher landet Erfolg auf Amazon". Kronen Zeitung. 9 November 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- "Steirischer Science-Fiction-Film auf Amazon Prime Video verfügbar". Film Commission Graz. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.