Wrong Turn (2021)
Scott Shaw (Matthew Modine) is concerned about his daughter, Jennifger (Charlotte Vega). She and her boyfriend, Darius (Adain Bradley), along with two other couples, Adam and Milla (Dylan McTee and Emma Dumont) and Gary and Luis (Vardaan Arora and Adrian Favela) left to hike the Appalachian Trail. But he hasn't heard from Jennifer and he can't reach her, so what else is a father to do, but head for the trail to look for her.
Six weeks previously, the three couples set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. They book rooms in a small
inn in a very small town and decide to go to a local bar for the evening, and begin the hike the next day. They quickly learn that not everyone in the deep woods is friendly to outsiders, and they almost rumble with some of the men at the bar. A well-meaning woman tries to discourage them from going, and warns them to never leave the trail. But when is good advice ever taken?
As they are hiking, and having a good time, Darius says he knows of a nearby fort that dates back to Civil War times and proposes a detour. Everyone goes along, although Jennifer reminds them of the woman's words to stay on the trail. But Darius argues that it won't take long and they'll get back on track once more. Ah, the best laid plans...
Hopelessly lost in the woods, they make camp and go to bed. Jennifer thinks she sees a silhouette outside their tent in the middle of the night, but then decides it's her imagination. Until the next day when all their phones go missing. Then an accident takes a life, someone goes missing, and Adam is dragged away on a chain. They had come across a plaque talking about an old group called The Foundation, formed prior to the Civil War. Is it possible that their descendants still live in the area? And if so, what is their intent toward the young people?
The only thing this film has in common with the other Wrong Turn films is the title. Okay, same author, and also set in the woods. No inbred cannibals with bad make-up here. No gratuitous sex scenes. Not saying this is a great film by any means, but it is a cut above those others. I found the most interesting thing about this movie was the debate concerning right and wrong, and the willingness to accept the consequences of one's actions. If one character hadn't acted rashly, perhaps the other events would not have been triggered. On the other hand, those like the Foundation who choose to live by their own rules aren't exactly role models either.
Jennifer is an interesting character, well acted. The ending suggests the possibility of a sequel or two. Hopefully we'll see Matthew Modine again. I'll keep an eye out for it. In the meantime, I'll give this film 3 Stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment