Written by Ryan Dailey
I can not speak for the rest of the Horror Nation, but this denizen can honestly say that there have been far too many times that I have sat there, a thousand yard stare plastered across my face,wondering what life decisions led me to a certain point in my life. I have done it in the parking lots of many jobs. I have done it while staring at blank canvases and blinking cursors on a word document. And I absolutely did the same thing ten minutes into this movie.
Typically in any form of story-telling, there is at least one character that the audience can latch on to and experience the story with and relate to.
I hear what you are saying.
“Ten minutes? What about the remainder of the run time? Have you not heard of a redeeming arc?”
Yes, yes I have. Beware of spoilers.
You will literally want none of the main cast to survive. One minute or one hour into this excursion, there is no likeable character.
The premise of the film had this reviewer fairly excited. Based on the trailer, someone my elderly age would think, “Cool! It’s Judgement Night meets Evil Dead 2!”
And to that, I say, No. No it is not.
The premise is simple enough. A group of friends comprised of the entitled bitch of a birthday girl, the sporty girl, the stoner male that says some really stupid things and passes out for seventy-four percent of the film,the birthday girl’s boyfriend and the “highly trained killer marine that is supposedly fresh out of collage all meet for birthday girls’ big trip to a music festival. Did the film leave out any other tropes? Nope. They also throw in the somewhat shy “good girl” that tries to be the voice of reason, especially in the third act.
The RV eventually breaks down in the middle of nowhere (of course) and strange things begin to happen. At this point in a review, the author would break down the story and offer insight into the goings on. With one dimensional characters and a paper thin plot that could have been great fun if written differently, it is very difficult to dive into this offering.
The gist of the film is kind of what I alluded to in the opening paragraphs. A demonic attack on a stranded RV. Unfortunately, not even gore and the occult could save this movie.
Allow me to end on a somewhat positive note. In the third act, the three remaining survivors turn in shockingly good performances of really bad material. I will not divulge who the remaining actors are, in case you, the reader, wish to watch it. I am going to say that the thespians really shine in the third act, making me believe that they would thrive with a script that was worth a damn.
I am sure that this film will find an audience, just not with me.
2 out 5.
Don’t Turn Off The Lights is currently streaming on Hulu.