review

been watching a lot of scary movies recently (well i use the word scary with big caveats as some have been so scary as to send me to sleep).
last night it was the turn of dead end, the film is a couple of years old. stars ray wise (who?)
it's christmas eve and the whole family is on a road trip to visit relatives. dad (wise) nods off at the wheel, the car goes out of control, but no one is hurt. after this he decides to take a short cut and then the troubles begin. the road seems to go on and on, no passing traffic, no lights, no buildings... just the road and nothing else. it gets worse when they meet a woman in white and from that moment on all the family is in danger as one after another they disappear only to reappear dead.
the film must have been shot on a shoestring, always at night, very little sets, a handful of actors, very little special effects. although there is violence in the film it is done off screen, and the gore is always implied rather than shown. as the journey gets bleaker and bleaker and there seems to be no end in sight the family begins to break down.
by the end you know what is coming, it is no real shock.
there are some interesting moments. there is some fine interplay between the characters, but it is not the most scary film i have ever seen - not even close, nor is it the most gripping film i had ever seen. but if there is nothing else available to rent out and you like cheap scare movies give it a shot, but only if there is nothing else to watch.