Wrong Turn
3/4
Starring: Desmond Harrington, Eliza Dushku, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jeremy Sisto, Lindy Booth, Kevin Zegers
Rated R for Strong Violence and Gore, Some Language and Drug Use
"Wrong Turn" is an old story told well. There's nothing new or surprising about this movie, so if you're looking for something deep or groundbreaking, look elsewhere. The difference here is that director Rob Schmidt is able to raise the adrenaline to an acceptable level and generate some solid shocks.
Chris Flynn (Harrrington) is in a hurry to get to a job interview. When the highway is jammed up from an accident, he takes what he thinks will be a shortcut. While distracted by a piece of roadkill (a deer, actually), he slams into a stopped car. After making sure that everyone is alright, he and the passengers of the other car realize that they were sabotaged: barbed wire was placed on the road. Totaled cars and no phones are going to be the least of their problems when they are being chased by murderous hillbillies.
"Wrong Turn" has all the elements of a traditional backwoods horror show. It's got a rundown gas station run by a guy with only a few teeth, mottled skin and in desperate need of a shower (who speaks with a southern twang, of course). Dirt roads, deserted cabins and scantily clothed girls. The lead character does some amazingly stupid things, and most of the cast won't be alive by the final reel. Yup, it's that kind of a movie.
What makes "Wrong Turn" so much fun is that Schmidt, who previously made "Crime + Punishment in Suburbia," directs the film with a sure hand. He has a knack for setting up scares and shocks. He chooses his camera angles deliberately to generate a sense of unease. Although his sense of atmosphere is flat, his work is effective nonetheless.
The acting is variable. Desmond Harrington is good as the low-key hero, but acting-wise, he doesn't have a lot to do. All that's required of him is to fill out his shirt (which is only partway buttoned) with muscle and act heroic. Eliza Dushku is also very good. She's known for playing tough girls, and this is another notch on her belt. But she's also a good actress; one scene is surprisingly poignant because of her. Jeremy Sisto is terrific as the motormouthed Scott, but Emmanuelle Chriqui is the exact opposite as his fiancee, Carly. Chriqui is incredibly annoying and she has far too much screentime.
Look, this isn't great art. It's not even especially memorable, and it pales when in comparison to "The Descent" (on that note, maybe I was being too hard on that movie. If this gets a 3 star rating, maybe "The Descent" should get four...), which it shares some similarities with. That being said, this is a fun little bloodbath, and for those who like this kind of stuff it's a movie to seek out.
Starring: Desmond Harrington, Eliza Dushku, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jeremy Sisto, Lindy Booth, Kevin Zegers
Rated R for Strong Violence and Gore, Some Language and Drug Use
"Wrong Turn" is an old story told well. There's nothing new or surprising about this movie, so if you're looking for something deep or groundbreaking, look elsewhere. The difference here is that director Rob Schmidt is able to raise the adrenaline to an acceptable level and generate some solid shocks.
Chris Flynn (Harrrington) is in a hurry to get to a job interview. When the highway is jammed up from an accident, he takes what he thinks will be a shortcut. While distracted by a piece of roadkill (a deer, actually), he slams into a stopped car. After making sure that everyone is alright, he and the passengers of the other car realize that they were sabotaged: barbed wire was placed on the road. Totaled cars and no phones are going to be the least of their problems when they are being chased by murderous hillbillies.
"Wrong Turn" has all the elements of a traditional backwoods horror show. It's got a rundown gas station run by a guy with only a few teeth, mottled skin and in desperate need of a shower (who speaks with a southern twang, of course). Dirt roads, deserted cabins and scantily clothed girls. The lead character does some amazingly stupid things, and most of the cast won't be alive by the final reel. Yup, it's that kind of a movie.
What makes "Wrong Turn" so much fun is that Schmidt, who previously made "Crime + Punishment in Suburbia," directs the film with a sure hand. He has a knack for setting up scares and shocks. He chooses his camera angles deliberately to generate a sense of unease. Although his sense of atmosphere is flat, his work is effective nonetheless.
The acting is variable. Desmond Harrington is good as the low-key hero, but acting-wise, he doesn't have a lot to do. All that's required of him is to fill out his shirt (which is only partway buttoned) with muscle and act heroic. Eliza Dushku is also very good. She's known for playing tough girls, and this is another notch on her belt. But she's also a good actress; one scene is surprisingly poignant because of her. Jeremy Sisto is terrific as the motormouthed Scott, but Emmanuelle Chriqui is the exact opposite as his fiancee, Carly. Chriqui is incredibly annoying and she has far too much screentime.
Look, this isn't great art. It's not even especially memorable, and it pales when in comparison to "The Descent" (on that note, maybe I was being too hard on that movie. If this gets a 3 star rating, maybe "The Descent" should get four...), which it shares some similarities with. That being said, this is a fun little bloodbath, and for those who like this kind of stuff it's a movie to seek out.
Comments
Post a Comment