This direct-to-DVD feature is a fast-paced GO-like tale that follows a group of characters, whose lives weave together in unexpected ways. The plot features two car accidents, two people putting the same dead body in their trunks and the events revolve around 11:14 pm.
To start, Jack (Henry Thomas, GANGS OF NEW YORK) is driving drunk down the highway when he passes under an overpass and a dead body lands on his car. From this point forward, the film chronicles the actions Jack takes to cover up the incident and the events that led up to the crazy occurrence.
Barbara Hershey (LANTANA) plays Norma, who tries to help Jack out on the highway, thinking he’s hit a deer. She’s married to pudgy loaf Frank (Patrick Swayze, DIRTY DANCING), who is worried about his trampy young daughter Cheri (Rachael Leigh Cook, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS), who is dating the skuzzy Aaron (Blake Heron, SHILOH). Clark Gregg (IN GOOD COMPANY) plays Officer Hannagan, whose night is quite busy. Hilary Swank (MILLION DOLLAR BABY), who also produced the film, plays Buzzy, a convenience store clerk, who is asked by her co-worker Duffy (Shawn Hatosy, THE COOLER) to make a huge sacrifice. There are also three teenage friends — Tim (Stark Sands, CHASING LIBERTY), Mark (Colin Hanks, ORANGE COUNTY) and Eddie (Ben Foster, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND) — cruising around causing trouble. Their friendship will surely be tested after a bizarre accident.
The script is tightly woven and builds some nice conflict, however it doesn’t take the time to develop the characters fully. Buzzy and Duffy get fleshed out well, but other characters are just placeholders. However, young director Greg Marcks must be commended in handling the complicated plot with skill and style. We never lose track of what is going on and he leaves out the proper amount of information so that we’re intrigued by what will develop next and not get frustrated.
Many will describe the film as Tarantino-esque, but Marcks only copies Tarantino’s structural style and not really his visual style. Marcks doesn’t go for the flashy look, but more of a straight approach, which helps make the story easy to follow. It’s hard to say how the film could have included more about the characters and keep its fast pacing, but I would have liked to know more. Because the plot is so heavy, the film doesn’t have the time to take it to the next level. To bring up Tarantino again, PULP FICTION has lots of characters as well, but the movie is more than two and half hours long, giving it plenty of time to flesh out the key players to a fuller degree. Marcks has talent and I hope that he gets another crack at the big time soon. As a fun, twisted mystery, this film delivers nicely.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
