The 'Elevated' Slasher That Still Bites
When you hear Wrong Turn, you probably think of the 2003 original—a movie that was basically 'Deliverance' with more makeup. This 2021 reboot, directed by Mike P. Nelson, wants to be something different. It attempts to join the ranks of 'folk horror' like Midsommar, focusing more on the terrifying laws of a hidden society than on simple jump scares.
The Foundation is a group that has lived in the mountains since before the Civil War, and they don't take kindly to city kids trampling their land. The movie spends a surprising amount of time on their philosophy, which makes the violence feel more targeted and 'earned' than just random mayhem. However, according to Roger Ebert's review, the film often trips over its own feet trying to be socially relevant, leading to a plot that feels a bit bloated at times.
Compared to the previous six films in the franchise (yes, there were six), this is easily the most 'competent' one. But 'competent' doesn't mean 'appropriate.' The gore is heavy, the tone is suffocating, and the ending is a cynical gut-punch. If your teen is a horror aficionado who has already seen the classics, they might appreciate the subversion here. For everyone else, it’s a detour that’s probably not worth taking.
