Hush (2009)

(No not the Batman villain!!!)

You ever watch a movie you knew absolutely nothing about? You pop it in not expecting much more than a thoroughly mediocre, all-too-forgettable experience because no one ever bothered mentioning the movie to you, so it couldn't be that great - and scene by scene the movie stretches your eyes from your ocular sockets and crazy-glues them to the screen? And you start wondering.... Why the hell isn't anyone raving about this flick?? Have I been reading all the wrong articles?? Has that ever happened to you??

With all the great horror flicks pouring out England this last decade: (28 Days Later, Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Broken, The Devils Chair, Blood River, Book of Blood, Mum & Dad, The Children, Triangle, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The Cottage, Severance, Botched, Evil Aliens, Lesbian Vampire Killers, the list goes on & on) I really should have known better.

"Hush" written & directed by Mark Tonderai (an english radio DJ - this being his first feature length film) felt like an elongated version of the first 20 minutes of Amusement. If you've seen Amusement that is. If not.... it was a taut, Hitchcockian (is that even a word? Hitchcockian?? ) road-trip. One that took more turns than a Hot Wheels race-set. And it's good!! Damn good!! So good it deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with flicks like; Joy Ride (written by: JJ Abrahms- Cloverfield, Lost, Fringe), & Breakdown (written & directed by Jonathan Mostow - Terminator 3 & Surrogates). I personally loved those two movies; so this flick was so far up my alley it was living in my apartment building. The story kept me on the edge of my futon, never letting me settle in, or so much as catch my breath. And just when I thought I had it all figured out, the plot rounded a hairpin-turn, and gave me a healthy case of whiplash. While it spiraled toward its conclusion, cracking every vertebrae in my neck, William Ash's performance kept powering this vehicle with rocket-fuel around every turn. He keeps the pace moving just as much as the plot does. Sometimes making retarded decisions, but decisions that kept the tires rolling.

Two young lovers Zakes & Beth are on the road, and in a quarrel; when they catch a glimpse of something sinister in the back of an 18 wheeler. A woman chained in a cage. A woman screaming for her life. With no visible license plate they're forced to follow the truck. They can't leave the woman to whatever fate awaits her. They're her only hope for survival. I don't want to say more than that, as it might ruin the impact & tension this flick will have. Hell I may have said too much already. I personally knew nothing going in and came out one smiling muthafucka. All I will say is this; if you liked Joyride, Breakdown, The Hitcher, Vacancy, Duel, or Pick Me Up, definitely check this baby out, it's well worth the, if you'll excuse the pun, gas-money. I would love to give this higher than an 8, but this is a plot we have seen a few times now. But it's got some magic up its sleeve. Stay tuned after the credits roll for an extra ending.

(8 out of 10)

Dave "Captain Insanity" Caroleo -