Southbound (Radio Silence, 2015): USA

Reviewed by Marlee Reed. Viewed at AFI Fest 2015

Five interlocking tales of terror, all connected by a deserted highway in the middle of nowhere complete the plot of this horror anthology. With four different directors (Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath, and the quartet Radio Silence) showcasing their own individual visions, Southbound is a fast paced and suspenseful tale that takes elements from the thriller and sci-fi genres to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This is not a movie you would want to show to your little ones for family movie night.

The first segment (The Way Out) begins with two guys, bloodied and beaten, who are attempting to run away from the evil event happened to them prior to the film’s beginning. They then make their way to a creepy gas station, with the same evil catching up to them, making it unable for them to shake the evil from before. The next segment (Siren) follows an all-girl band who’s van breaks down on the same highway, eventually getting rescued by a suspiciously perfect couple. They offer their home to the girls for the night, only to discover that you don’t take others for granted. The fate of one of the girls ends badly as we are led into the third segment (The Accident), as a 911 call takes a turn for the worse. As the fourth segment begins (Jailbreak), are then introduced to a man searching for his missing sister, and encounters a family reunion that he wasn’t expecting. In the final segment (The Way In), we are introduced to a family spending their final moments together before the oldest daughter leaves for college. A quiet night at home for them takes a turn for the worse, as a deadly home invasion disrupts their peaceful evening.

Southbound is another exciting project brought to us by the writers of the VHS trilogy (Roxanne Benjamin, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, David Bruckner, Susan Burke, Dallas Richard Hallam, Patrick Horvath), and they did not disappoint on this one. The quick scene cuts add to the suspense of the film, along with the shaky camera work that has the viewer feeling the same suspense as the characters. The cast is a mix of fresh faces and veteran actors, both of which know how to present themselves onscreen. Scenes that weren’t taking place outside on the highway or at the gas station, most lighting was low and complimented the ominous feel of the film in general. The segments themselves flowed, the transitions in-between connecting the narratives perfectly.

With a good amount of jump scares to stop your heart for a few seconds, and the large amounts of blood and gore that would even make the person with the strongest gag reflex want to reach for the nearest paper bag, this film is a good pick for a quick horror fix.