Tags:
Book: Dead End
Year: 2003
Directors: Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa
Writers: Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa
Starring: Ray Wise, Lin Shaye and Mick Cain
Review:
This was a movie that I heard about when getting into podcasts. It isn't one that is covered a lot, but it does get discussed from time to time. I decided to check this out as this takes place on Christmas Eve so that worked for a holiday watch on Journey with a Cinephile: A Horror Movie Podcast. I also did know that it had a solid cast of character actors with Ray Wise, Lin Shaye and Alexandra Holden.
Synopsis: Christmas Eve. On his way to his in-laws with his family, Frank Harrington (Ray Wise) decides to try a shortcut for the first time in 20 years. It turns out to be the biggest mistake of his life.
This takes place in the car as this this family travels. As the synopsis says, Frank is driving. With him is his wife, Laura (Lin Shaye). They're on the way to her mother's house. In the back are their children, Richard (Mick Cain) and Marion (Holden). Also with them is Marion's boyfriend, Brad Miller (William Rosenfeld). I will point out that Richard and Brad don't get along. Something we learn during this trip is that he is looking to propose to Marion, where she is trying to figure out how to break up with him.
Frank decided to take a shortcut during this year's trip. He dozes off at the wheel and almost crashes into another car. This wakes him and everyone else up in the car. They get back on the road and see a sign for a town called Marcott. Something interesting, it doesn't say how many miles. They also come across a hunting cabin on the side of the road. Something even creepier though is they see a lady in white, played by Amber Smith. She is carrying a baby. They pull over and offer her a ride.
Something terrifying happens so it is decided to go back to the cabin to see if there is a phone in it. Brad is left in the car with this mysterious lady and he sees there is something wrong with her child. When he disappears, the family gets their next scare. That is just the start as dark secrets are also revealed during this journey.
That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that this is an interesting premise. We are confined mostly to the car as it travels down this dark road through the woods. This does help to build an atmosphere and containing the story. Our characters are still moving and the scenery changes so this is done strategically. I appreciate having this be contained. The caliber of the cast helps there as well.
I believe that is where I'll go next. Wise is great as this father. He tries to keep this sense that he's in control. The longer he drives, the more terrified this gets. There is a potential secret revealed about him and we don't know if it is true. Shaye also plays well off him. She's an actor that I'm glad works as much as she does as she got older. We get to see a change with her as tragedy hits this family and that worked. She also has a secret that gets revealed. Cain is a bit annoying, but he was also funny. His character feels that it is written for someone a bit younger, but he was fine in his portrayal. I liked Holden in her role. She is an actor that I've seen in other things and she is quirky. Rosenfeld, Smith and the rest of the cast do round this out for what was needed. Smith is mostly here because of how good looking she is. We do see her nude from the back if interested.
Now I do have a bit of a negative here. What I have a problem is with the reveal. I'm not going to give away what it is, but I guessed it within the first 15 minutes. I don't think anyone gave it away on a podcast and if it was, then it was hidden in my subconscious. That could be the case. Regardless, I don't love what the explanation is, this does handle it better than others that try this idea. I will credit them for that at least. It is good that dark secrets get explored as well. Part of that is being stuck in the car together and the stress mounting. Things get revealed as the tension boils over. I did enjoy that aspect.
Shifting slightly away from the tension, I want to talk about the atmosphere. I'll also bring in filmmaking. What was scary here was the sound design. We hear a baby crying over the radio. There are other creepy sounds coming from the woods. That made me feel uncomfortable so good on the movie there. I'll say that being on a road in the woods adds to it. It is dark and that helps with the atmosphere. How it is framed makes it feel smaller so there is a claustrophobic feel that I picked up on. There is a bit of a low budget feel here, but I didn't have a problem with it. I thought how this was made was well done.
In conclusion, this movie plays with an idea that I don't necessarily love. It does manage it better than others, so I'll credit it for that. This has great leads with Wise, Shaye and I'll pull Holden here. The rest of the cast isn't as good but push them to where they end up. I think the filmmaking is good with sound design, cinematography and framing to build a creepy atmosphere. I don't think this is a great film. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy my time here. This is one that if you want a creepy, contained Christmas movie, then give this is a watch. Not sure there's a lot of replay value though outside of seeing signs you may have missed not knowing the reveal.
My Rating: 7 out of 10