A Dive into the Depths of Horror: “Wrong Turn 6” Review
In our “Scary Movie” section, we present reviews of horror films that, for various reasons, haven’t made it to wide theatrical release.
Danny (Anthony Ilott), a down-on-his-luck broker who lost everything in the financial collapse, is trying to start over. He discovers that a deceased relative has left him some property in the backwoods, and Danny and his friends decide to check it out. The property turns out to be a luxurious old hotel run by a rather strange brother and sister. And, of course, a trio of familiar, grotesque maniacs from previous installments are lurking in the area…
The “Wrong Turn” series is a rather unique case in Western cinema. Emerging from a mediocre “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” clone, the franchise found its voice in the second film and hasn’t degraded over time. The previous, fifth installment was arguably the best in the series. It introduced a “senior patron” for the trio of deformed psychos, played by Doug Bradley (the iconic Pinhead from “Hellraiser”), which brought in elements of “The Silence of the Lambs.” The plot benefited from parallels with “Assault on Precinct 13,” where the psychos besieged a police station holding Bradley’s character.
Traditionally, the creators of “Wrong Turn” don’t worry about the overall logic of the series. Their main goal is to deliver realistic, brutal, and ultra-bloody carnage with a sadistic edge. It’s hardly a spoiler to say that, in this series, positive characters rarely survive until the end credits. This is another “feature” of the franchise that leaves a strong, oppressive aftertaste. Imagine “Alien” ending with the monster gleefully tearing Ripley’s skin off alive.
“Wrong Turn 6”: More of the Same, But Is That a Bad Thing?
Given all of the above, “Wrong Turn 6” doesn’t surprise. Although the director has changed (Declan O’Brien, who directed parts three through five, left to film “Joy Ride 3”), the film is consistent with its predecessors. Events from previous installments are forgotten (no mention of Doug Bradley’s character; the trio of maniacs has a new “family”), evil triumphs again, and the murders are truly sadistic. You might even find yourself relieved when a character simply gets a machete to the head, as deaths in this series are usually much more elaborate and agonizing.
Whether this is good or bad depends on why you watch horror films, especially slashers. “Wrong Turn 6” doesn’t boast polished dramaturgy, a deep or original script, or outstanding acting. It’s an attraction for those who like it meaty and disgusting, for those who enjoy black humor at its darkest, and for those who are willing to overlook artistic flaws if the film delivers on what matters most in a slasher.
than the second and fifth, but better than the third and fourth. Outsiders won’t understand (hence the numerical rating), but fans of the series don’t need to know anything else.