Wrong Turn – Film Review

Working backwards, the new Wrong move The film ends with one of the most satisfying end-credits sequences you will ever see. The rest is pretty rewarding too. Dark, bloody and viscous, this loose remake of the 2003 horror thriller by Eliza Dushku does a lot more right than wrong.

I have little memory of the original, nor have I watched any of the direct-to-video sequels, but of course the only real similarities between this new version and its predecessor are the title and the fact that both are in the woods. Gone are the cannibals, but they have been replaced with something equally threatening. And the plot points also differ significantly and offer fans committed to the franchise a completely new experience.

Other than comparisons, this is new Wrong move, which brings back writer Alan B. McElroy in particular, is a pretty nasty horror film. Directed by Mike P. Nelson, this is an extremely serious and cold-hearted thriller that is consistently ruthless and, to a certain extent, unpredictable. While it quickly becomes apparent that Jen (Charlotte Vega) is the lead actress, neither her survival nor the fate of her friends is guaranteed early on, making for a satisfactorily windy path for a movie.

Vega makes for a great lead role, and developing it into what it will ultimately become is fun, even if the film itself sees “fun” as a bad word. Meanwhile, Bill Sage serves as a ruthlessly cold and intelligent villain. He may not be a cannibal, but his love of violence is just as scary.

Wrong move holds back very little, and yet I hoped it would be even more ballistic and violent than it is if I found fault with anything. The long runtime of just under two hours can contribute to this feeling. It’s certainly not boring, but a slimmer, meaner cut can have resulted in a tougher, skull-cracking experience.

But Wrong move is definitely a movie to be piloted. If you like your horror thriller violent and gory, the movie delivers in spades and get ready to smile for this end-credits sequence.

Rating by Erik Samdahl, unless otherwise stated.