Southbound

Most horror films have a straight storyline, where you follow a certain story from start to finish. Since this is the most usual way to make a horror film, you are used to see these films in a certain way. But that´s why i enjoy horror films, that use a different concept. Take the V/H/S films as an example. Different stories put together, by different directors, trying to tell something different, no matter if it includes zombies, aliens, flesh eating creatures, it is nice to see that horror films can be varied. I especially loved V/H/S/2, the sequel that was even better than the first film. The story called Safe Haven is a perfect example of really good horror, with lots of gore and a very interesting premise. This story was directed by Timo Tjahjanto and Gareth Huw Evans, why i mention this is because you might recognize the last name. Gareth Huw is the director of both The Raid films, and if you have not seen them, you need to buy them right now. Two of the best action films i have seen for many years, especially the first The Raid film. Speaking of films having different stories put into the same film, i just remembered a classic, and that would be the film Creepshow. This film had some really interesting stories included, and every story was told about certain issues, where we all are eventually doomed to fail. This is one of George A. Romero´s cult films, that you don´t really hear much about these days. Perhaps most horror fans prefer to talk about his cult zombie films, and leave some of his other work left behind. I recommend you buy Creepshow, on dvd or blu ray, because it is a classic, with a lot of great actors included. Tales From The Crypt, both the tv series, and the films made, are all based on different stories from the comic books, also something you should check out. Since i felt that V/H/S Viral, ( the third film in the V/H/S trilogy ), failed completely to deliver anything ineresting, as the previous films, i finally found some hope in a new film called Southbound. Some of the directors, and producers, who worked on the V/H/S films, gathered around once more, to tell 5 different stories, each episode directed by one director. Since i am a big fan of V/H/S and V/H/S/2, this got me really excited, to see what they could do this time around. To be honest, i did not read much at all about the film before it came out, and i did wait to see it. Could this be the next horror anthology to look forward to, or is Southbound doomed to fail from the beginning ?

The Way Out

Mitch ( Chad Villella ) and Jack ( Matt Bettinelli-Olpin ) are driving on a highway through the desert. Mitch see strange enigmatic floating creatures following them. They make a stop at a gas station, where Mitch see the floating creatures watching them. Jack does not know about this, but it becomes obvious that something is not right. Why are they being followed ?

Siren

At a motel room, we see Sadie ( Fabianne Therese ), Ava ( Hannah Marks ) and Kim ( Nathalie Love ) are all band members of the band The White Tights. As they head off to the desert highway with their van, it suddenly breaks down. Stuck in the desert, they hope to find help somewhere. Suddenly a couple named Dale ( Davey Johnson ) and Betty ( Susan Burke ) offer the girls a ride, and they are welcome to stay in their home until the van is fixed. Everything seems ok at first, but this couple have some surprises to share.

The Accident

Lucas ( Mather Zickel ) is driving along the highway, talking to his wife Claire ( Roxanne Benjamin ) on the phone. Suddenly, Lucas accidently hits Sadie ( Fabianne Therese ) with his car, as she is in critical condition. Lucas panic and dont know what to do. He calls 911 and tell them that he accidently hit this woman with his car, The woman talking on the phone suggest that Lucas driver Sadie to the nearest hospital. Lucas find one, but it is completely deserted. This phone call is soon becoming much more sensitive, where Lucas is forced to make some heavy decisions.

Jailbreak

At a local bar, Lucas ( Maria Olsen ) is trying to order some beer. Suddenly, a man named Danny ( David Yow ) breaks in to the bar, armed with a shotgun. He pulls out a picture of his sister Jessie, and threaten to shoot someone if no one tells him where she is. He is suddenly attacked by one of the bar customers, but it turns out that this man is not human, in fact turns out to be a demon. Danny kidnap the bartender Al ( Matt Peters ) who seems to have information on his sister. Al warns Danny that he should leave, or this situation will become even worse. 

The Way In

At the Freez´n Over, Jem ( Hassie Harrison ) is having dinner with her parents, Cait ( Kate Beahan ) and Daryl ( Gerald Downey ). Jen is about to start college, so they meet up tonight to enjoy a meal together. As they leave Freez´n Over, they notice that someone is watching them. They go back to their vacation house, when suddenly 3 masked men break into their vacation house. Daryl and Cait are caught, while Jem manage to hide. Who are these men and what do they want ?

You can tell that Southbound is using a concept, telling stories that have a connection somehow. Even if the characters are different, and the stories look different from each other, you can tell that there is a meaning to why the film is located out in the american desert. Instead of going into every story, and explain the differences, i think i would look at this film from a whole perspective. And this is where it gets interesting. Southbound use elements from all kinds of horror films, and that is not a bad thing. In fact, i can understand why there are 5 directors on board this film. They got the chance to tell a story, in their own way, and try and make every story feel interesting. I would not say that every story works really well, but i do see highlights. Especially in the story called Siren, directed by Roxanne Benjamin. Mostly known as one of the producers of V/H/S and V/H/S/2. Siren is almost like a combination of Rosemary´s Baby and satanic influences from old horror films, a combination i feel works really well. I also felt some influences from Ti West´s film The House Of The Devil, a film that brought back classic satanic ingredients that we have seen in classics from the 60´s and 70´s. As the rest of the film goes on, Southbound proves to function, and manage to tell stories that each have a message. To make it more fun for you, who have not seen this film yet, i will not say anything about what each story is trying to say. Directors Radio Silence, Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner and Patrick Horvath all seems to love old school horror. And this is where they get a chance to use different elements, combining with a very smooth synthesizer sound. Southbound may not be as good as V/H/S/2 turned out to be, but this is a hell of a lot better than turd V/H/S Viral, so you know you are in good hands. The acting is alright for the most part, and i especially enjoy the performance of Davey Johnson as the strange ordnary american Dale, who looks like a car salesman, but have much more dark secrets within him. I have to mention Susan Burke also, as the wife of Dale, named Betty. She have this creepy look, at the same time as she tries to look like the friendliest wife in the world. A concept you have to love, when they manage to capture that feeling of not knowing whats wrong with this couple. There are other great performances in some of the other stories, so i will say that Southbound is a good time, if you are a horror fan of old school influenced independent films. Nice to see that independent horror films are still alive, and manage to deliver quality.

Rating: DDD