Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)

The original “Wrong Turn” didn’t anything new to genre but was still a mildly entertaining film, depending on the sense of tension built upon the cannibalistic hillbillies chasing their prey more than the script itself. The fact that there was a sequel, a few in fact, that followed shouldn’t be a surprise but what is shocking is how quickly the quality of the franchise sank with its second film. It takes the negative connotations of the backwater hillbilly to a whole new low level, this time focusing on a full family of cannibals which include a sister and mother figure. This film also introduces the reason as to why they are deformed, super strong, and nearly invincible.

The only redeeming thing about this movie is the fact that it stars Henry Rollins! His performance as a former US Marine who is the host of a reality TV pilot was way over the top and he was completely committed to it, which made it great. Just like his role in “Feast”, it seems like he had a blast with his part. 

A group of would-be reality TV show contestants become prey to a cannibalistic hillbilly clan. What else do you need to know??

Henry Rollins and contestants

Henry Rollins hanging outside down, not being gutted

Henry Rollins wearing face camo

Henry Rollins firing a shotgun

Wrong Turn (2003)

“Wrong Turn” is your average, mainstream horror flick filled with a cast of pretty people and a storyline that has a few thrills but nothing that really stands out. What it does show, with newspaper clippings and medical reports during the opening sequence, is how the inbred hillbillies of West Virginia have increased strength and a high resistance to pain. They also indicate that numerous people are reported missing every year in that area. Like other cannibal movies, it’s a family that is performing these dastardly deeds. And like other movies I’ve noticed, they like to leave a dead body lying around with a leg missing. Why?

Chris is on his way to a very important job interview but he’s running late. To bypass a messy accident on the highway, he takes the back road but ends up hitting another vehicle that was stop in the middle of the road. Everyone is ok but is quickly creeped out when they find a barbed wire tire trap that was laid out and ruined the tires of the first vehicle. The group of six breaks up; four walking around looking for a phone while two stay with the broken cars. The two quickly get killed (surprise!) by the cannibalistic hillbillies while the other four find the hillbillies house. There are piles of sunglasses, cell phones, watches, and other items collected by their victims over the years. The three hillbilly brothers come home, the four hide and hear/watch their dead friends get hacked up. Hacking up bodies is tiring, so when the hillbillies take a nap, the four survivors escape from the house. The rest of the movie is about the hillbillies chasing and sometimes killing the four remaining survivors. Of course Eliza Dushku makes it to the end, but that isn’t revealing much.