As someone who camps frequently in the Alberta mountains, where not only black bears are a threat but cougars, wolves and grizzlies (which I had a terrifying encounter with myself) - there are many places deep in the woods where you cannot get reception. One of my frequent spots has a weak signal, but there is absolutely no signal there on a long weekend. We had to try for an hour to contact fish and wildlife after our threat, and the signal kept getting lost mid-call.
The guy in the movie (Alex) was a complete utter idiot, but there are plenty of men who insist on camping the old fashioned, redneck way. No phones, no devices. I get razzed like crazy if I so much as pull out my phone to check the time, and it's a shame. There are great apps that make camping fun, and also apps that are incredibly useful that show you animal tracks, scat, warnings signs of bears (which I think the movie handled amazing, I saw many things like the fallen trees, a fresh kill, before the sow came at us). But also, don't most smartphones have a compass that works without a signal? The guy acted like such a twat refusing the map, hiding the phone, not bringing a compass... if he was that experienced in the woods he should know better.
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