Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Shortcut (2020)

Let’s Ride #20!

Five teenagers and their bus driver encounter a sinister force in a dark tunnel in 2020’s Shortcut. Directed by Alessio Liguori, this film has a nice helping of suspense, one quick twist early on, and a creature that moves in the shadows. It’s a fun horror flick with a strong cast, a solid plot, and some nice practical effects.

The film tells the story of five teens on a school field trip that end up having to take a shortcut in order to stay on time. Their slow-moving bus, gently driven by the friendly and loyal Joseph, gets carjacked by a famous serial killer from the area. The killer’s story is built up through a flashback featuring one of the teens, but he becomes less of a threat once the bus breaks down in a dark tunnel. A new threat rises from the shadows and the group on the bus have to figure out not only how to survive, but how to destroy the monster hunting them. Do they survive? Watch Shortcut to find out who comes out alive!

I have to admit that I had zero expectations of this film. I knew nothing about it except for its title and, based upon its description, the fact that it might be a Jeepers Creepers ripoff. It’s not, but I can definitely understand why some folks may see a connection between the two films.

The film is slow in the beginning. Intentionally, I believe. It’s also relatively quiet. The bus rolls along at a slow pace, making its way through the English countryside barely making a sound. We get brief introductions to all of the characters in the film while the bus cruises down the road. Then they run into a tree blocking the road. The tree forces the bus to take a detour where they find a dead deer blocking their path. Joseph (Terence Anderson) gets out to move the deer, but he returns with a well-known serial killer, Pedro Minghella (David Keyes), holding him at gunpoint. Pedro forces Joseph to drive the bus and makes the teens toss out their cellphones. The group eventually find themselves stalled in a dark tunnel. A creature emerges from the darkness…..and things go from bad to worse.

I really liked this movie. The young actors hold their own in the film. Jack Kane, Sophie Jane Oliver, Zanda Emlano, Molly Dew, and Zak Sutcliffe star as the teens that bond together to not only face the creature, but create a trap for it. It’s nice to see them come together as one when they start off the film as five very, very individual characters.

The creature looks great. While it spends most of its time in the dark, we do get a few very good close looks at it over the course of the film. The tunnel system used in the film is a perfect place to hide a monster, and the backstory that we learn is interesting as well.

If you’re looking for a nice little horror flick with a cool creature and kids that are intelligent for once, give Shortcut a look. I think you’ll like it.

Thanks for checking out my review.

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Night Terror (1977)

Let’s Ride #19!

Valerie Harper takes a terrifying trip across the deserts of Arizona in 1977’s Night Terror. The film, which is also known as Night Drive, is a Made-For-TV movie starring Harper as Carol Turner and Richard Romanus as a mute killer that uses a “talk box” or electrolarynx. Released on February 7, 1977, the film is a surprisingly engaging suspense thriller directed by E.W. Swackhamer.

In the film, Harper, known primarily as a comedic actress (and a good one at that), portrays a hapless housewife trekking home to see her ill son. She witnesses the violent death of a police officer by Romanus’ character. Romanus, who had a very long film and television career, then pursues Harper in a series events and situations where Harper’s character has to prove that she isn’t as helpless as the viewers are first led to believe. This makes for an interesting film, as Harper matches wits with Romanus and ultimately becomes confident in defending herself.

This could have been just another cat-and-mouse thriller but, instead, director E.W. Swackhamer and writers Carl Gabler and Richard DeNeut give Harper a meaty role to really develop and grow Carol across the length of the film. With Swackhamer at the helm and two veteran actors like Harper and Romanus taking the lead, this film really punches above its weight-class as a Made-For-TV movie.

I definitely recommend this film. It’s engaging, loaded with character development, and graced with a brilliant cast and director. I normally go a bit easy on Made-For-TV films because they are often hindered by budget concerns, but Night Terror is a lean, mean thrilling machine that could go toe-to-toe with some of the best big screen thrillers out there.

Thanks for checking out my review!

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Drive Back (2024)

Let’s Ride #18!

On their way home from their engagement party, a couple take a shortcut through the California forests and find themselves terrorized by a cannibalistic killer, helped by a hitchhiker, and tested by their own secrets on a seemingly endless road in 2024’s Drive Back. The film was written by Jon Sarro and directed by Cody Ashford. It stars Whit Kunschik and Zack Gold as Olivia and Reid, our young couple trapped in a cycle of violence and terror.

Drive Back‘s delivery is much like its plot: twisted and endless. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this film well enough, but visiting and revisiting the same moments over and over with no real conclusion to them gets boring really, really fast. Add to this the fact that it’s pretty obvious who certain characters that the couple meet along the road are after meeting them just once or twice. When the film is in terror mode, it terrorizes. When it’s in “big revelation” mode, it drags the film to a dead stop. Ultimately, you get a movie full of great moments but no real payoff.

The cast is fine. The cinematography can be beautiful at moments. The action is great. It’s the lulls between the action and the overall plot that make this film less than it could be in the long run. I recommend it for the cast and action, but with a few reservations.

Thanks for checking out my review.

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Black Cadillac (2003)

Let’s Ride #17!

A trio of Minnesota young adults find love and trouble while on a road trip to a Wisconsin bar in 2003’s Black Cadillac. The film stars Randy Quaid as Sheriff Charlie Harman, Shane Johnson as Scott, Jason Dohring as Scott’s little brother, Robbie, and Josh Hammond as CJ, Scott’s best friend. Kiersten Warren also has a small part as Jeanine. It’s an extremely solid film that is heavy on action and packs a great amount of suspense as well.

In the movie, Scott, Robbie, and CJ are having a great time at a dive bar. Robbie is having his first sexual encounter, Scott is having fun with Jeanine in his car, and CJ gets into a fight. The fight ends with Scott cleaning house with the locals and the trio tearing off down the highway. As they put distance between themselves and the bar, they are chased by a black Cadillac. Suspecting that the Caddy belongs to some of the bar patrons looking for revenge, Scott picks up his speed and aims for the Minnesota state line. They later run into Sheriff Harman (Quaid), whose patrol unit has died on him. As they continue their journey to Minnesota, the Cadillac returns. Harman begins egging Scott on to race and antagonize the Caddy. As the Cadillac becomes more aggressive, things go from bad to worse. The group soon realize that the driver of the Cadillac isn’t looking for a fight, he’s looking for revenge.

I really liked this film. It has some excellent action and the boys actually do a pretty good job of outsmarting the Cadillac at times. The plot isn’t groundbreaking in any way and easy to figure out, but it plays out quite well on the screen. I enjoyed the performances of the actors, especially Quaid, and found the chase sequences fun to watch. It’s also always nice to see Kiersten Warren in a movie.

Black Cadillac isn’t a great film, but it sure is fun to watch. I definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy action films. Give it a look and, as always, thanks for reading my review.

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Phantom Racer (2009)

Let’s Ride #16!

Rivals on and off the track, Cutter McCullough and JJ Sawyer find themselves in a terrible racetrack accident. Cutter dies from his wounds and JJ walks away from the track and becomes a trucker for a racing company. Years after leaving the sport he loves, JJ finds himself back in the town where his rivalry with Cutter ended in tragedy. When people die in bizarre accidents, all featuring Cutter’s restored race car, JJ becomes the prime suspect. What JJ discovers, however, is that Cutter is back and wants to settle the score with JJ in 2009’s Phantom Racer.

The film stars Greg Evigan (B.J. And The Bear, My Two Dads) as JJ Sawyer, Nicole Eggert (Baywatch, Charles In Charge) as Tammy, and Brenna O’Brien (Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon) as Jesse, Tammy’s daughter. It has received generally negative reviews and while I completely understand why the “professional” critics would dislike this film, I believe that anybody who turned this Made-For-TV movie on back in 2009 knew what they were getting into before they decided to watch it.

This movie isn’t that terrible. It has reasonably good CGI for a TV film and some pretty decent action as well. The kills in this flick are surprisingly gory. They include a decapitation by a car window, a face shredded off by a tire, a person getting squeezed to death by a seat belt, and someone getting cut in half by a car trunk.

The film also has a few surprises for viewers. There’s at least one My Two Dads reference directed at Evigan. I didn’t notice any BJ And The Bear references nor any Baywatch references, but sharper ears and eyes might catch one of those. Fans of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica might be happy to see Luciana Carro, who portrayed Kat Katraine in that series, as Deputy Monroe in Phantom Racer. Fans of The Covenant might recognize Sarah Smyth as young Tammy as well.

If you are looking for award-winning acting and an eye-opening story, you won’t find it here. If you just want to watch a decent film with decent action and lovely Nicole Eggert in it, Phantom Racer is right up your alley. Give this film a look. I think that you’ll enjoy it.

Thanks for checking out my review.

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Wrong Turn (2003)

Let’s Ride #15!

Eliza Dushku and Desmond Harrington battle a cannibalistic crew of inbred West Virginians in 2003’s Wrong Turn! Written by Alan B. McElroy (Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers, Spawn film) and directed by Rob Schmidt, the film is a surprisingly well done flick with a bare bones style that allows for lots of action, decent effects, and a ton of gore.

The film wastes no time getting to the action and terror. After a brief prologue that gives us a taste of what our antagonists are capable of, we are introduced to our heroes when Chris Flynn (Harrington) has a collision on a backroad with the vehicle that the rest of the film’s stars happen to have stopped on the road. Why are they stopped? Because someone conveniently laid a strip of barbed wire on the road. Soon enough, the group splits into a couple (Kevin Zegers, Lindy Booth) that stay behind at the cars and Flynn, Jessie (Dushku), Scott (Jeremy Sisto), and Carly (Emmanuelle Chriqui), who begin walking down the road looking for help. The first group is quickly killed by the cannibals. The second group manage to find the cannibal homestead and enter it in the hopes of finding a phone. They are soon discovered and a wild chase begins. Will all four of them survive? Watch Wrong Turn and see what happens!

As I mentioned earlier, this film wastes no time getting to the action. Its plot is simple and works well on the screen. All of the cast do wonderful jobs, especially Jeremy Sisto, who, in my opinion, is criminally underused in most of the films in which he is cast. The movie has some of the coolest kills that I’ve seen in a film in a long time. Without spoiling too much, I’m especially fond of the pine tree kill.

The film spawned a number of direct-to-DVD sequels, none of which I’ve seen. From what I’ve read about them, they aren’t worth my time. I may still attempt to watch one or two of them. That said, if you haven’t watched Wrong Turn, you need to see it.

Thanks for checking out today’s review. See you soon!

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: The Hitch-Hiker (1953)

Let’s Ride #14!

Trailblazing female director Ida Lupino guides viewers on a thrilling road trip through the deserts of California and Mexico in 1953’s The Hitch-Hiker. The movie, which Lupino co-wrote with Collier Young, is considered to be the first film noir directed by a female. It’s based upon the real-life mass murderer known as Billy “Cockeyed” Cook, who went on a murder spree starting in Missouri and ending in Mexico. Cook murdered a family of five and their dog, as well as a traveling salesman. He also attempted to murder a mechanic, but failed.

Ida Lupino (L) with The Hitch-Hiker stars Edmond O’Brien and Frank Lovejoy in a BTS shot.

The film stars Frank Lovejoy and Edmond O’Brien as Gilbert Bowen and Roy Collins. They are taking a road trip to Mexico to get in a little fishing whenever they pick up the hitchhiking Emmett Myers (William Talman) and he immediately pulls a gun on them and begins giving them orders. Collins begins to become more and more unhinged as the time passes, but Bowen manages to keep a cool head. Bowen can also speak Spanish, which proves to be a great advantage for him. Myers’ plan is to have the duo drive him to Santa Rosalia, Baja California where he will kill both of them and then leave a life of freedom in Mexico. As the trio make their way south, Bown and Collins make plans to overtake and outsmart Myers. You’ll have to watch The Hitch-Hiker to see who succeeds.

The film is extremely well-paced and acted. Lovejoy, O’Brien, and Talman command the screen with their performances. The action isn’t over the top and it’s nice to have brief moments in small towns break up the dialogue-heavy scenes on the road. Don’t write this film off because of its age, it’s still a great thriller that holds your attention and is loaded with thrills.

Talman’s resemblance to Billy Cook is mind-boggling. He even has a paralyzed eye in the film like Cook had in real life. Talman does a great job as Myers. Of the trio in the film, however, Frank Lovejoy steals the show. All three of them gave great performances, but Lovejoy stands out in my opinion.

The real Billy Cook (L) and William Talman’s Emmett Myers (R).

I definitely recommend The Hitch-Hiker. Give it a look and let me know what you think about it!

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Let’s Ride #13!

The highway gets supernatural in 2001’s horror thrill ride, Jeepers Creepers! Every twenty-three springs, a creature gets to feast for twenty-three days, sniffing and licking his way through people that he terrorizes on a lonely Florida highway. He takes a part from each person that he selects and then adds the rest of their body to a twisted skin wall under an old church. In the film, his next target is Darry Jenner who, along with his sister, happens to be cruising down the highway on their way back home for spring break.

Gina Philips and Justin Long star as Trish and Darry. They essentially carry the film as they attempt to stop the Creeper (Jonathan Breck) from murdering more people and soon enough, find out that one of them is on his Want List. They encounter a number of people while looking for help to stop the Creeper, including a Cat Lady (the legendary Eileen Brennan) and Jez (Patricia Belcher), a psychic that can see many of the Creepers moves before they happen. Jez attempts to warn Trish and Darry, but is it too little, too late?

Although the Creeper has amazing speed and can fly, his primary weapon is a beat up 1941 Chevrolet Heavy-Duty COE. He drives this truck up and down the highway, day and night, scaring people as he tailgates and rams their vehicles. His intention is to strike fear into people. He then catches their fear scent and picks who will be his next victim.

Jeepers Creepers is a very entertaining horror flick. It has an excellent blend of horror and action. Long and Philips act just like a pair of close-knit siblings, arguing with one another and being overly protective as well. Eileen Brennan has a small role in the film, but she is great for her few minutes of screen time. Patricia Belcher also does a great job as the frantic Jez. This is a solid film and I definitely recommend it.

Thanks for checking out my post!

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Cold Road (2024)

Let’s Ride #12!

Isolation and fear take on two forms in 2024’s Cold Road, a Canadian thriller written and directed by Kelvin Redvers. The film stars Roseanne Supernault as Tracy, a young woman who is terrorized on a lonely stretch of highway in the cold Far North of Canada by a semi-truck driver who has been targeting First Nations people. The driver uses stereotypical ideals to convince police that the drivers caused their own accidents, allowing him to freely cruise the highway in search of his next victim.

Tracy, along with her dog, Pretzel, is headed to see her mother who is dying. She calls her sister, Eve (Taylor Kinequon), when cell service is available to let her know how close she is getting to home. The first encounter with the truck driver takes place while Pretzel is taking a bathroom break and is almost struck by the semi. Writing the incident off as just a jerk move by the driver, Tracy continues on her drive. With each encounter afterwards, the driver becomes more and more threatening. Tracy tries to get help assistance from the local police and folks in the small towns that she stops in, but all of the write her off as delusional, crazy, drunk, or worse. Will she survive her ice road rival? Watch Cold Road to find out what happens!

The film addresses terror and isolation in two ways: 1) a fairly standard cat-and-mouse road chase and 2) the isolation and hate experienced by First Nations people by others. In the case of the road chase, the story is par for the course. With regards to the social experience of First Nations people, it gets pretty serious. As someone who grew up near a reservation in south Louisiana, I’m aware of the racism that Native Americans have experienced over the years. I was lucky enough to have a father who worked with a Koasati man and I had a number of interactions with him and other Koasati over the years. Most people probably know the tribe as Coushatta, which is also the name of a casino that the tribe owns. These experiences helped me while watching Cold Road, as I definitely saw similarities in the way the Tracy is treated and the way that the Koasati in my area were treated for years. It made me think quite a bit, and I appreciate that about this film.

The highway sequences in the film are shot extremely well and help move along the story at a nice pace. Tracy uses the skills and wisdom passed down to her by her mother to try and thwart her adversary. There are a few sequences in the film where we see Tracy speaking to herself and/or Pretzel, and these can be a bit tedious to get through, but her encounters at a gas station, a diner, and with other First Nations people on the side of the highway help break up these sometimes monotonous moments.

Cold Road is a well done thriller. While most road thriller films follow the same basic formula, this film adds the struggles, tenacity, and determination of the First Nations people. Give this film a look, I don’t think that it will disappoint you.

Thanks for checking out my review!

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: The Wraith (1986)

Let’s Ride #11!

Tonight’s post features one of my favorite killer/ghost car films of all time, The Wraith (1986)! The Wraith was actually one of the first films that I ever reviewed for my Thirty-One Days O’Horror series, but I decided to revisit it for this year because, well, it fits the bill and I really love it. The film stars a young Charlie Sheen, Sherilyn Fenn, Nick Cassavetes, Clint Howard, and Randy Quaid.

The film tells the story of a gang in Arizona that challenges other drivers for pink slips. The gang, headed up by Packard (Cassavetes), do any and everything they can to win, including cheating. They also murdered a young man that Packard hated. That young man’s brother, Billy (Matthew Barry), works at the local burger shack along with Packard’s “girlfriend,” Keri (Fenn). When a stranger (Sheen) arrives in town, he brings with him a mysterious Dodge Turbo Interceptor and a hunger for revenge. He also draws the attention of Keri…..and Packard, who determines to destroy his newest adversary. This leads to the stranger, named Jamie, racing and terrorizing the gang that murdered Billy’s brother. Who is this strange individual and where did he come from? Check out The Wraith to see what goes down in the Arizona desert!

Viewed more as an action thriller than a horror film, The Wraith is a really fun ride. The film is loaded with cool cars from a number of decades and a very solid cast, many of which would go on to bigger and better films and television shows. The special effects are a bit hokey at times and don’t hold up very well against today’s effects. That said, if you grew up when this film was originally released, seeing the somewhat cheesy effects brings back a flood of memories of this and other films.

This is a very fun film with some great action. The main cast is excellent and the action is awesome. Be sure to check out this film when you get a chance!

We are almost halfway through the this year’s Thirty-One Days O’Horror. I’ve got a few classics still to come, a number of modern films, and, on October 31st, my favorite killer car film of all time! Stay tuned and thanks for checking out my post!