Wrong Turn film review

certificate_18

WRONG TURN

Wrong Turn sounds like it's going to be a run-of-the-mill horror as a group of unsuspecting young Americans get a big surprise when they go down to the woods. Heavily influenced by Deliverance and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it doesn't however go down the path of so many recent formulaic teen horror movies and ends up being a slightly retro cut above the norm.

Our six unsuspecting victims begin by getting lost in the wilderness that is West Virginia. With the freeway jammed they have no option to try a local road, but a car crash soon puts paid to their wheels. Leaving two at the car, the four central characters set off on foot to find help. Obviously the law of horror films implies that this is their first big mistake. Sure enough, the two remaining at the car are stalked by shadowy figures in the woods and soon end up meeting a gory death. Their four wandering friends stroll on, happily unaware of the fate about to befall them. The troubles really begin when they come across a deserted shack full of empty cars and, more worryingly, jars of body parts.

Although it's not necessarily the most original film, Wrong Turn makes some good choices. There are no star names in the cast (the most visible being Six Feet Under's Jeremy Sisto), and the characters they play are nicely underwritten - we feel that these kids could be just about anyone, and they certainly don't have the annoying hang-ups that seems to be the norm in this sort of film.

Their enemy in the forest is a type of Mountain Man, last seen populating many horror films of the mid 70s. Again they are well portrayed: occasional glimpses helps to build of the impending sense of doom. No reason is given for their desire to abduct and mutilate passing strangers (which is as it should be, since a reason would defuse the excitement) - they are doing it for simple crazed pleasure.

The film also bravely refuses to tone down any of the violence. If you want to see bodies ripped apart in as many different ways as possible then this is definitely your thing, and there was no way this film was going to receive anything other than an 18 certificate.

In a strange way, Wrong Turn isn't quite as scary as it might be. This is probably because, despite its best intentions, it is at the end of the day quite derivative. But it's still well-thought out and well-made with a definite 70s feel to it. Viewers of a weak disposition should probably go to the screen next door.