"FAIR 'NUFF" - a review by Paul.

I had the pleasure of an evening screening of the new horror movie Wrong Turn, starring Eliza Dushka and some bloke from We were Soldiers and Ghost Ship. I have to say, having initially thought this was going to be a bit shit (and having read some negative reviews on some American review sites)… it proved to be a hugely entertaining movie. It starts with We were Soldiers bloke (Chris is his name is in the film) driving to an important job interview on an unspecified highway in a Southern American state… there's been an accident and - to make sure he reaches an all-important job interview - he decides to take a back-road that he passed a few miles back. Clearly the worst decision he ever made, as he accidentally crashes into a group of friends (Dushka and mates) who are on a camping trip - there own vehicle has been waylaid by some odd barbed wire that was laid across the road - seemingly with the purpose to debilitate any vehicle which crossed it… This sets the scene for the schlock-horror film that unfolds… crazed cannibal hillbillies (designed by special effects guru Stan Winston) running amok and after the hot young cast.

In terms of pure entertainment, Wrong Turn delivers in spades… sure it's opening pre-amble is a really crude set-up - two climbers killed by a mysterious force (really derivative of the work of Kevin Williamson) and the title sequence that follows is a bad Se7en rip-off that sticks out as such… but what really draws you in is the fact that someone really cared about making this this film… the film is beautifully shot and it can't help but draw you in… Forget any real attempt at characterisation though -you wont be surprised to learn that the engaged couple are clearly fu**ed or that the kids who remain behind with the car smoking a joint get fu**ed up too. or how about the amazing revelation that Eliza Dushka's screen boyfriend dumped her before the trip...

What really gets you is the simple horror premise… something bad is chasing them and they have to get away - like Jaws or Friday the 13th or Scream… but where do you go? Is there really anywhere to run..?

And luckily there is - but it involves a romp through a forest and having to negotiate terrain that would be insurmountable under any normal circumstance, let alone the three murderous cabnnibals at their heels… They constantly strive to evade the advancing hillbillies and it's pretty gruesome stuff when the odd cast member slips up and gets caught.

So that's the SP… but is it any good? Well the answer is yes. It is pure entertainment. There are loads of great jump out of your seat moments… things going bump and making you feel uneasy in your seat...there's also plenty of gore (well realised by Winston and his team) and there's also some above par acting - for something as shit as a crappy horror movie - you kinda feel pretty bad for these guys getting all cut up and messed over by the freakishly made up hillbillies and you really want them to get out of there.

A great date- or In for a few beers movie... Wrong Turn should be seen if you crave the kind of scary movies they made back in the 70's. It isn't going to chnage your world, but it'll make you wary of camping out in the wilds like the Blair Witch Project did a few years back - and isn't that why we go to see horror films in the first place?