Review of Dead End

A campy fun horror movie. On Christmas Eve, a typically dysfunctional middle class family packs into a car to go to grandma's house. Or so they think. A shortcut, a pumpkin pie, a woman in white, and near head on collision later... well let's just say being locked in the car with this family could be horrifying enough... There are few real surprises in the telling of the story, as in the characters are typically horror Movie IQ impaired. But the dialogue in spots is genuinely funny and some moments are even a bit scary. When I say "dumb" I don't mean badly acted... I mean, that after two grisly murders, one of the characters decides it is a good time to go into the woods alone.. or they take separate routes to the lonely cabin in the woods. This "formula behavior" actually enhances the fun feel of the movie.

Lin Shaye steals the show as a a June Cleaver-type mom... She has the absolute best lines and her delivery is great. Ray Wise on the other hand, was not the best choice. He played the role like a mean Archie Bunker...a little too "mean" if you ask me. I would have liked a little more of a dark/dysfunctional comedic touch. The brother played by Mick Cain was simply a simp. Annoying, repugnant, and unrealistic. The only bad act in the bunch. Alexandra Holden was much too young to be playing a Psychiatrist, but she was fun in parts too.

While I did figure it out... the ending is still fun and had a little twist. But nothing that you will work too hard at figuring out.

All in all - worth the watch if you aren't busy.