Detour
Detour

Movie spotlight

Detour

2018
Movie
Adult · 18+
83 min
English

Teens Molly and Sandra (Carmen Caliente and Kenzie Reeves) get into a rideshare talking excitedly about going on a backpacking trip to Europe after graduation. Now that they're 18 they're excited to take on the world and everything it has to bring them. After enquiring about why they aren't on route their driver, Stefan (Alex Legend) explains that he has to make a pit stop at home and that he might have something of interest to them. Naive Stacey (Aubrey Sinclair) gets into the car of her driving instructor, Peter (Brad Knight) or who she suspects to be her driving instructor. It doesn't take long for these girls to discover that their detours have them going down the wrong path.

Insights

IMDb5.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes35%
Metacritic44/100
Google Users40%
Director: Christopher SmithGenres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery

Plot Summary

A young man named Harper is struggling with his past and a recent breakup. When his car breaks down in a remote desert town, he seeks help from a waitress named Cherry and her associate, Johnny. As they embark on a road trip together, a dangerous game of cat and mouse unfolds, blurring the lines between reality and delusion.

Critical Reception

Detour received mixed to negative reviews from critics. While some praised its stylistic choices and unsettling atmosphere, many found the plot convoluted and difficult to follow, leading to a sense of frustration rather than intrigue.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its stylish visuals and a sense of mounting dread.

  • Criticized for an overly complex and ultimately unsatisfying narrative.

  • Some found the performances engaging, despite the plot's shortcomings.

Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a split reception. While some appreciated the film's unique atmosphere and attempts at a mind-bending narrative, a significant portion found the plot confusing and the ending disappointing, leading to a general sentiment of bewilderment.

Fun Fact

The film's distinctive visual style, often employing Dutch angles and a dark, noir-inspired aesthetic, was a deliberate choice by director Christopher Smith to enhance the protagonist's disorientation and the film's overall unsettling tone.

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