Dead End Movie Review:


This straightforward horror movie is like a Twilight Zone episode stretched out into a feature ... without adding much subtext. It's creepy and tense, but not terribly memorable.

The Harrington family are driving to Grandma's house for Christmas Eve dinner when Dad (Wise) decides for the first time to take a back-road shortcut. Mom (Shaye) is not amused, but wants everyone to have a good Christmas so just gets on with the carolling. Daughter Marion (Holden) is acting strangely preoccupied while her fiance (Asher) fends off the verbal assaults of Marion's caustic little brother (Cain). Eventually they find themselves on a long, straight road to nowhere, haunted by an eerie woman in white (Smith). Clearly, something has gone horribly wrong. And every time they stop the car one of them dies.

While the family tensions and bickering are enjoyably warped, most of the dialog is extremely corny, especially two of the characters get increasingly crazed. Until they go nuts, the actors are quite good; each has a family stereotype to play, and they do it very well indeed. But the filmmakers don't seem to have anything particularly original to say here (it's obvious what's happening from the beginning), and they seem strangely evasive about much of the sex and violence, leaving us to wonder what the film's point is. There are several blackly funny moments that liven things up--both cruelly witty gags and mordant snippets of dialog like Dad's sudden blurt: "And I thought Christmas was bad last year!" Then the script falls back on yet another tired cliche ("This reminds me of a story my grandfather used to tell me") and we're yawning again.

While the film is frequently grisly, it's never remotely scary or horrific. It just seems to get increasingly silly, repetitive and meaningless by the minute.

Yes, it's entertaining and never dull, but it's also fairly lazy filmmaking.

Rich Cline

Christmas Eve and Frank (Wise) decides to take a short cut to his mother-in-law’s house after been bored year after year driving down the same interstate. Nearly crashing after falling asleep at the wheel, he sees a girl carrying a baby on the side of the road. Looking like she has been in an accident, the family decide to help, only this is the worst mistake they are ever going to make.

A homage to the horror suspense flicks but with its tongue planted firmly in its cheek, Dead End is how low budget scary movies should be made.

Like an episode of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits, the small cast are thrown into a nightmarish situation that they can’t see any escape from. Targeted by a killer, she starts picking them off one by one, never revealing her reasons why until the final act. This is old school horror that relies on the imagination instead of gore to get the scares but what the writer/director partnership of Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa have done to make Dead End standout is inject some very funny, dark humour.

It is the interactions of the family members and the witty dialogue, especially from Mick Cain as Richard that relieves a lot of the tension and apprehension of the situation. A scare is followed by a joke as jump and laugh at the same time. The well-written dialogue gets funnier as the family’s situation worsens, their deepest, darkest secrets are revealed as the heated arguments and fear loosen their tongues.

The snappy script would be nothing without some fine performances. Best known as Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks and for a number of smaller, supporting roles, Ray Wise has his chance to shine as Frank, the head of the family and the reason why they are in this mess. He grabs his opportunity with both hands and delivers a performance that is both funny and desperate, as the situation gets worse. Alexandra Holden also gets her big break, having more screen time than she has ever had before. Best known as Ross’s student girlfriend in Friends, Alexandra shows that she has the ability to become a scream queen and move up onto the big screen with ease. The one-liners are supplied by Mick Cain, who plays exaggerates the image of the typical America teenager to the point that he becomes the epitome of every gross kid you have seen in the movies.

The star of the show however is Lin Shaye, as the mother of the family Laura. She steals every scene that she frequents and her deterioration into madness is as funny as it is disturbing. Anyone who has seen a Farrelly Brother’s movie will know she is a comedic talent that deserves more time on the big screen and Dead End gives her that chance.

The excellent dialogue and performances are let down slightly by the very predictable story and a lacklustre finale. It is very easy to figure out what is happening to the family as soon as the Lady in White turns up and the final reveal seems a tab rushed, feeling like the writers have run out of ideas.

This aside there is still a lot to enjoy about Dead End. The dark humour, the genuine scares and the excellence cast, make up for these shortcomings making this a very welcome addition to the low budget horror fraternity.

Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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