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DVD Detour
 Run time: 87 min Rating: 5.2 Genres: Thriller Director: William Dickerson Writers: William Dickerson, Dwight Moody Stars: Neil Hopkins, Brea Grant, John Forest |
| Storyline Trapped inside his car by a mudslide, smooth talking Jackson Alder suddenly finds himself in a situation he can’t talk his way out of. With no hope of rescue, he must defy the odds; battling Mother Nature for his survival. |
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| Plot Keywords: mudslide, mother nature, survival, trapped, weather | |
| Details: Country: USA Release Date: 29 March 2013 (USA) |
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DVD Detour
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3 comments
I read the review complaining about this film being boring. And i almost didn't watch this. But I am really glad I and decided to watched it. I suppose I can understand why someone might call it boring. It doesn't have a ton of over the top freaking out. It isn't full of screaming and ranting or constant in your face action. What it does have is an actor able to carry a movie through until the end on his own. And believable emotional stages of such a situation.
The lack of over the top acting and panicking made this movie believable and intriguing instead of annoying. I really felt for the poor guy. I felt the lack of air and claustrophobia. If you prefer a lot of noise and yelling this isn't the film for you. I gave this film a seven because it kept me watching and made me really feel the subtle panic. Only thing lacking is maybe five more minutes at the end. But that need for more closure is just a personal preference.
3.4 of 10. I nodded off, slept, woke up, backed up to the last scene I remembered, and forced myself to watch it all. Excellent as something to get you to sleep without any drugs. While the ending is technically impressive and the overall story a good idea, it's not executed/produced well.
Claustrophobia and other confined phobia stories are difficult challenges for film, especially when the entire film is based on it rather than just some scenes. It seems to be catching on as one of the latest fads for directors to try to prove that they can make an entire film about it interesting. As compared to Buried (2010) where the ending rescues the film, Detour's ending only makes it more entertaining and not enough so.
In short, it's more of a resume film for some technically skilled directors/cinematographers, not something to watch unless you have a job/class that requires it. If you have a class that requires it, consider it a tip to switch schools or at least cancel and opt for a different class.
Apparently this film was written before 127 Hours and Buried so those folks who want to claim rip off would be wasting their time. A man is buried in his car after a mud slide. So basically you have another "how do you fill one man in a confined space for 90 minutes" movie. The claustrophobic feel is top level here. You feel for the guy and his predicament and how will he ever get out. The problem again, is the filler. We have to suffer through him video taping himself and other babble that isn't really interesting and clearly done to fill up time. I fast forwarded through stuff here and there. Also dream sequences, which I personally hate because they do not move the story forward. But again, they're trying to fill 90 minutes. That said, it's not bad at all. The lead actor has skills and pulled off the part and the movie was filmed well. Now I will never drive the Hollywood Hills after a hard rain.