"These days an income is something you can't live without--or within."
- Tom Wilson
"These days an income is something you can't live without--or within."
- Tom Wilson
Member since:01.10.2002
Reviews:38
Members who trust:30
Directed by: Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa
Cast: Ray Wise...................Frank Harrington Lin Shaye..................Laura Harrington Mick Cain..................Richard Harrington Alexandra Holden....Marion Harrington Billy Asher.................Brad Miller Amber Smith............The Lady in White Karen S. Gregan......Dr. Marcott Steve Valentine........The Man in Black Jimmie Skaggs.......Worker 1 Clement Blake.........Worker 2
Overview: For the past 20 years, without fail, Frank Harrington has driven his family to the in-laws to spend Christmas. With his family asleep in the car, Frank is bored, and decides to try a different route to the one he usually takes, leading his family into the unknown, which could turn out to be the biggest mistake of his life.
My Opinion: How do I begin a review
on such a bizarre film?! This is definitely one of those things you will either hate the instant it finishes, or love it. Whichever of these is yours, one thing is certain - you'll think about it, and think about it, and think about it. You just can't help it - and it needs to be thought about if you're to ever come to a conclusion as to what the film is about.
Some people reading this review, I know, will be immediately put off by my first paragraph, but I urge you not to be, and to watch this film anyway, just to see.
I won't go into the details of what happens, as many other reviews have done that, and with a film such as this, it sort of takes away the point of watching. Dead End is an experience all the way through, not just saving the twists for the end, and so I won't take away from that by telling you the ins and outs.
It's very difficult to say WHAT this film is about, as a matter of fact. It's meaning is really down to interpretation, and there are many interpretations out there. As far as I'm aware (unless there is some extra on the DVD), the Directors / Writers have not given their side of it. It can't be compared to their other films either, because this is the only one they're credited with. What I have found when looking at other people's opinions on Dead End, is that a lot of people dismiss it outright, partly because it's a low budget film, and partly because it is not an immediately obvious plot.
With regards to the 'not an obvious plot' side of this, what I would say is, if you don't mind not knowing exactly what the director was thinking, and having to put your own theories in there, then you'll get along just fine. If you like your well wrapped up happy endings, then avoid this one at all costs.
As for the low-budget-ness of Dead End, as a film student myself, I have to say that this should be everyone's number one reference guide for how to make a great film with zero pennies. The cast list at the top of this page is not my usual 'main cast' list, but the ENTIRE cast - the fewer salaries to pay on a low budget, the better. When you watch the film, you'll also notice that the majority of the film is set on the same road (it's meant to be the samev road - I don't mean they've hidden the fact badly!), and in the same car, with the odd scene here and there shot elsewhere, but again, nowhere flash. Despite all of these budget cut-backs, it stil manages to look good, and this is all down to the fact that the script was clearly written with the lack of budget in mind, as opposed to the often-seen "big screenplay, small money" syndrome, where every scene that should have had all guns blazing looks super-cheap.
There could be countless interpretations of Dead End, and of course, I have my own theories, but going into them would give half of the film away (if not all), so I won't do that here. What I will say is, go - rent the film, see for yourself, and when you're done, go onto IMDB and read other people's theories (there are some very interesting ones), and then form your own. Alternatively, rent it, hate it, don't have theories, and come back here and tell me off for makng you waste your £4 (or however much it is to rent a movie these days).
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Sep 21st, 2005
very helpful by (100%):
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