Wrong Turn surpassed my expectations and then some. If you're a fan of the genre, or even the original franchise, this fresh new look is well worth your time.
“Backwoods terror and nerve-jangling suspense meet when Jen (Charlotte Vega) and a group of friends set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. Despite warnings to stick to the trail, the hikers stray off course – and cross into land inhabited by The Foundation, a hidden community of mountain dwellers who use deadly means to protect their way of life. Suddenly under siege, Jen and her friends seem headed to the point of no return – unless Jen’s father (Golden Globe nominee Matthew Modine) can reach them in time.”
The Wrong Turn franchise, beginning with the original in 2003, introduced audiences to the cannibalistic deformed mountain men who trap and kill innocent people who they lure into their wooded territory of West Virginia. The first film, which quickly gained a cult following, spawned six sequels, all of questionable and no doubt deteriorating quality. The newest incarnation, a ‘reimagining’ of the franchise, brings back the writer from the first film, and the two couldn’t be more different, which is exactly what this franchise was in dire need of.
The film begins with Matthew Modine’s character searching a small town in Virginia for traces of his daughter and her friends that went missing six weeks prior. We quickly learn that the locals of this town always give fair warnings to outsides to stay on the marked trails, or suffer the consequences, and with their narrow-views and hostile attitudes it seems that we may be following a similar path from the rest of the franchise, but you’d be way off mark. That’s one of the most brilliant things about this film, is the bait and switch they do, or don’t in some cases, that keeps you guessing. Knowing nothing about this new incarnation going in, this film ended up going an entirely different direction than I expected.
The rest of the film flashes back six weeks prior, introducing us to Jen, her boyfriend Darius (Adain Bradley), and two other couples that are traveling by car to small towns and hiking portions of the Appalachian Trail. Even here, the usual norms of the typical clueless teen victim are turned on their head, demonstrated in a hilarious bar confrontation with some of the locals. Instead of being intimidated by them, Jen stands up to the bullying, highlighting each one of their accomplishments and education level when they insinuate they are just young and stupid. Does this even matter when the action starts? Not entirely, but it’s just one piece of the story that begins to go in a new direction, a common trend as the film progresses.
It’s hard to go into much more detail without giving away some really great moments in Wrong Turn, but one thing can be said for sure, this isn’t a remake, but a reimagining of the film, as you’ll see the differences very quickly. Although it has been years since I’ve seen the original, it’s also evident that overall, the film and story are crafted much better than before. Thanks to some of the more intellectual types of horror we’ve seen recently, like Hereditary, Midsommer, and The Witch, Wrong Turn follows that trend of smart writing and filmmaking, not shying away from trying something new, going against the basic tropes utilized in all of the subsequent films. While deformed inbred rednecks can make for some good, low-brow entertainment, there’s a certain suspension of disbelief that you’d find yourself in that kind of situation. In this new film, there are some real elements to it that make it even scarier, with special effects and gore that will absolutely blow you away.
Saban Films has been putting out a lot of content as of late, with a thriving studio that specializes is straight to video releases. While their action films leave a lot to be desired, they’ve consistently impressed with their horror and mystery genres. With Wrong Turn, Saban has absolutely knocked it out of the park, and I consider it to be their best release yet.
Video
Wrong Turn is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.39:1. The film looks stunning, with some vibrant display of colors in a lot of the outdoor sequences, that really stand out. The picture is clear and detailed, free of any noticeable defects. What sets this apart from any other of the Wrong Turn films, is the highly stylized look and beautiful cinematography that highlights the landscape the film takes place in. The woods is the central location in the film, as well as some other deep, dark areas you eventually see, as horrific as they are aesthetically pleasing.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds exceptional, with clear and concise dialogue coming from the center channel, with a nice balance between the surrounds, responsible mainly for the atmospheric effects of the woods, and other creepy noises designed to frighten.
Special Features
There are quite a few extras on this release, more than I’ve come to expect from a Saban Film, so I’m pleased we get some extra material to dive into, because after the ending of the film, you’ll be wanting more.
- Deleted & Extended Scenes
- “Monsters Among Us: Making Wrong Turn” Featurette
- Wrong Turn Promotional Trailer
- Feature-Length Audio Commentary with Director Mike P. Nelson
Wrong Turn is easily the best of the franchise, and Saban’s best release thus far. Smartly written and not afraid to take risks and turn old archetypes on their heads, this film is both horrific in its substance and beautiful in its execution. If you are a fan of horror, looking for a fresh take on an older story, this is it. Pick up Wrong Turn today!