Unlike Cujo (1983), but just
like Five Across The Eyes (2006),
this movie fails because of the artificial, wholly pointless, situational
restrictions placed upon storytelling. It is nothing more than another gimmick
flick and, despite its high quality production values; it quite obviously lacks
any of the intensity of Rodrigo Cortés’ Buried (2010), another
similarly constricted nightmare about an American abroad. While somewhat
witless protagonist, Michael, performed rather weakly by Paul Walker (Timeline, John Dahl’s Joy Ride, and a mainstay of the Fast & Furious franchise), attempts
to address his personal faults and correct all of the (presumably numerous)
mistakes of his past, so our fugitive’s getaway vehicle drives through a car
wash, and then visits a backstreet garage for a re-spray; mirroring the angst
ridden hero’s final efforts to make a fresh start. (Gosh! That’s clever
symbolism, eh?)
Ultimately, this is a dismal effort and it drags on for twice
the length required to adequately tell a middling tale. So, it is very easy to
slip from wondering about what may happen next, to simply not caring at all.
And, of course, such a reckless pursuit of redemption as this can only end in a
tragedy during the inevitable confrontation with corrupt local cops. Yawn.
