The Shortcut Movie Review–Early Losses But Quick Improvement
Well, folks, you’re gonna love this one. It doesn’t come out until September 29th, and also represents the first ever horror title from Happy Madison’s newly-founded horror arm, Scary Madison. Today we’re talking The Shortcut, and it’ll be a study in attempting to overcome early losses.
Yeah, I know…that’s got me more than a little freaked out, too. I’m supposed to believe a horror movie from Mr. “You ain’t cool unless you pee your pants”?
The plot, of course, is horror movie standard, which makes it all the more unpleasant when you realize that this is rated PG-13. Essentially, we’ve got a shortcut through the woods, connecting the school to local residences. Meanwhile, the shortcut itself has become the topic of local legend, sufficiently so to require that it be locked and gated. It’s said to be home to a shovel-wielding lunatic that doesn’t much like kids…or trespassers.
Both is right out.
Anyway, when a group of kids decides to investigate for themselves, what they’ll find will leave them never again the same.
What truly upsets me about The Shortcut is that nothing of any real consequence happens through the first half hour. Nothing worse than a dead dog and some vaguely ominous foreboding. Frankly, as a horror movie, this loses so much effect for just being plain old DULL.
Clearly, Happy Madison is out of its depth.
I will admit, however, that after the first forty minutes things do improve somewhat, and The Shortcut will manage to achieve some solid, if blatantly irrational, results in the last half-hour, but it’s almost a case of too little, too late. They lost so many opportunities in the first half hour there’s no way you can call this good. The best it can achieve is passable.
The Screenhead Ten Scale hands this interesting slow-starter a six out of ten for opportunities lost and opportunities capitalized on.
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Although my resume of film reviews is limited, I report for my HS paper – I predict this movie will be a huge hit with the teens. A perfect fright, scream and oodle at Drew Seeley movie. Screening parties after homecoming are already arranged in out area. The recipe of creepy woods, creepy old man and hot teens are a homerun.
Carry Lynn–a good analysis. You’re right–this should go over big with the high school set, doubly so since it’s rated PG-13. My piece was targeted to a wider audience, most of whom will find this pretty dull against the earlier, larger body of work. No real horror movie buff will be very scared at this one, but for newcomers like high school kids? Yeah, you should get a few good punches out of this one. Also, glad you’re reading us here at Screenhead–we’re always happy to have the new generation of film buffs keeping up with us. Spread the word, huh?