Dead End - Twin Peaks (in a car)

As a die-hard fan of David Lynch’s surreal little TV spectacular, Twin Peaks, I do tend to watch pretty much anything with various actors associated with the series.  Ray Wise was brilliant in the show and I always enjoy his performances.  Here is no different.  It’s basically the Ray Wise Show (but in a car).

Did I mention the entire of this cheap little horror movie is set in a car?  I feel I better because it may put people off.  Plus it’s not exactly high budget.  Like I said – one setting: the car.  And the darkened woodland road it’s travelling along.

Dead End is about a family of five (Ray Wise – the dad, his wife, their two children and their daughter’s soon-to-be fiancé).  They’re all (un)happily travelling to a relative’s at Christmas – like they do every year – when they decide to take the ‘scenic’ route.  This involves ditching the interstate for a cross-country road.  Not a good idea.

Basically, it’s a horror film, so, without wishing to give anything away, bad things start to happen.  I won’t go into detail as it’s such a fun little film that anything else may spoil things.  Like I mentioned, the budget isn’t too high, so don’t expect hordes of Orcs rampaging through the woods or general destruction on a planetary level.  Just expect some creepiness, mixed with witty dialogue.

Yes, the dialogue.  Whether you love or hate the film, I defy almost anything to dislike the banter between the family.  Right from the start they bicker and berate each other and come across like they really have been making this depressingly traditional journey for countless years.

But, no matter how good the cast are in general (Lin Shaye, I’m referring to you), it’s Ray Wise’s performance that carries the film through and through.  He really is on top form, moving from hen-pecked husband to tortured soul and on to protective parent along the way.

Dead End should really be a cult classic.  It’s not high budget enough to be particularly mainstream and doesn’t have the big names associated with it to make it stand out.  But I hope it finds an audience out there among people who like their horror films understated and creepy, rather than big budget and loud.

Oh, and is it just me – but if you’re a fan of Twin Peaks, try and spot the many references (besides the obvious Ray Wise association).

9/10 almost as perfect as The Godfather