[31 Days of Halloween 2016: SOUTHBOUND is now available on home video and VOD.]
Review by Eric Sever
A horror anthology that doesn't feel like one, SOUTHBOUND is a well-produced
string of tales all set on a dusty dessert highway.
The five stories are loosely connected, some more than
others. Two blood-soaked men stop at a gas station to clean up and refuel,
while something eerie pursues them. An indie band heads to their next gig after
the death of one of their bandmates. A man tries to save the life of a girl he
has hit with his car. Customers in a small town bar get a surprise when a man
bursts in with a rifle. Finally, a family vacation is interrupted by a very
unwelcome, late-night knock at the door.
All dealing with themes of punishment and redemption, each
self-contained segment seamlessly flows into the next. The cohesiveness of the
movie is greatly helped by the consistently excellent acting, directing, and
shooting, elevating it above the wandering nature of the script and of
anthologies in general.
Directors Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath
and Radio Silence, most of whom also wrote, do a nice job of balancing their
own styles and horror subgenres, while still maintaining an overarching tone
and aesthetic.
The voices behind this feel fresh and unique, and it’s nice
to see horror that doesn’t feel ripped off from a predecessor.
The film’s biggest flaw may be that within its meandering
plot, several of the stories feel like they aren’t quite complete. There
isn’t enough exposition provided in a few of the tales for the audience to
truly understand backstories and motives. At times, there are hints of
deeper, more complex parables here that are never fully explored or explained.
On the other hand, some might argue this is an asset,
creating a mysterious, elusive nature to the storytelling that plays like a
southwestern nightmare. A lot of questions go unanswered, but often it’s
creepier that way. The fact that this sun-scorched, desolate world is full of
characters and plots that one wants to know more about is, indeed, its own
testament to the film.
With doses of surrealism, the supernatural, and
well-executed gore, SOUTHBOUND tells
a satisfying and creepy set of stories without the usual inconsistency in
quality and narrative style that often comes with many crews contributing to
the same feature. While the stories may leave some wishing there were meatier
explanations, there is more than enough here to enjoy the ride.
3 out of 4 stars.
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