Dead End (2003/I)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Jean-Baptiste Andrea
Fabrice Canepa

Writers:

Jean-Baptiste Andrea (writer)
Fabrice Canepa (writer)

Release Date:

26 September 2003 (South Korea)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller | Comedy

Tagline:

Read the signs.

Plot:

Christmas Eve. On his way to his in-laws with his family, Frank Harrington decides to try a shortcut, for the first time in 20 years. It turns out to be the biggest mistake of his life.

Plot Keywords:

Car | Woods | Night | Christmas Eve | Surprise After End Credits

Awards:

7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Ray Wise	...	Frank Harrington
Lin Shaye	...	Laura Harrington
Mick Cain	...	Richard Harrington
Alexandra Holden	...	Marion Harrington
Billy Asher	...	Brad Miller
Amber Smith	...	Lady in White
Karen S. Gregan	...	Doctor
Sharon Madden	...	Nurse
Steve Valentine	...	Men in Black
Jimmie F. Skaggs	...	Worker #1 (as Jimmy Skaggs)
Clement Blake	...	Worker #2

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language, sexual content and some drug use.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:18PL | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Germany:16 | Ireland:15PG | Italy:T | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Sagittaire Films

Goofs:

Continuity: When the family stops the first time they see the girl in white, we see a large dry spot in the road, and a tree. But when they turn around and head back the opposite direction, we see a shot of them passing the same spot and tree in the original direction they were traveling.

Quotes:

Richard Harrington: What's up little critter, I'm you're Uncle DICK!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Stuck on This Bloody Road (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Please Don't Go

Horror with style, wit and charm

When this movie started my heart sank a little. It's going to be another of those, "People in car take a wrong turn, encounter one sort of slasher or other." How wrong I was, and what a little gem this film is. True, the occupants of the car do take a wrong turn, Frank Harrington is taking his family and his daughter's boyfriend to spend Christmas with his in-laws, but there this movie parts company with your average gore-fest. This, I believe, is for three reasons. The writers gave the cast great lines to read; the blood content is actually very low for such a film, and finally, it was inspired not to fill the car with swinging teens, but use a mixture of youngsters and, shall we say, more mature citizens. I'll not go into plot lines, but if you're like me, this movie will leave you with a satisfied grin on your face.