When it comes to horror franchises that fans love for the brutality and madness of the villains, you can't miss the Wrong Turn series, starring the savage cannibals. The fourth installment, Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings, returns to tell the origin story of this family in a prequel format. While it may not be as impressive as the first film, it still delivers the fun of a low-budget horror movie that fans enjoy.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
The story takes place in 2003. A group of teenage friends decides to go skiing in a snowy forest, but their car breaks down midway. When a snowstorm hits, they seek shelter and stumble upon an abandoned psychiatric hospital that has been closed for decades. What they don't know is that inside this place is the home of three cannibal siblings who escaped from a laboratory many years ago. Since then, the place has become a killing zone as the seven teenagers face off against killers ready to hunt and eat them.
Acting and Characters
The lead actors in this installment are newcomers unfamiliar to audiences, but they perform their roles well. Notably, Jennifer Pudavick as Kenia effectively portrays fear and decisiveness, while Tenika Davis as Sara has a strong look fitting a survival heroine. However, most characters are written as shallow victims, with only a few standing out enough to be remembered. The three cannibal siblings remain scary as per formula, but they are not as memorable as the trio in the first film.
Direction, Visuals, and Music
Director Declan O'Brien, taking over from previous installments, tries to maintain the franchise's identity with straightforward gore and horror. The overall look of the film retains the dark, oppressive atmosphere of the abandoned hospital. The soundtrack uses exciting melodies typical of low-budget horror films, but nothing particularly stands out. The downside is that the special effects and fake blood look unrealistic, making some scenes lack credibility.
Editorial Analysis
Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings is a film that truly sells B-movie horror. It doesn't have a deep or complex plot with twists, but what it does well is ramp up the brutality and savagery of the villains, especially the varied and memorable kill scenes. Although they may seem over-the-top, they satisfy fans looking for mindless fun. However, for those unfamiliar with this type of horror, the film may seem illogical with stupid characters. The real highlight of this installment is revealing the origin of the three cannibal siblings, adding interest to the franchise's backstory.
Verdict
If you're a hardcore fan of the Wrong Turn series who enjoys mindless brutality, this installment is decently fun. But if you expect high-quality horror with good script and sophistication, you might want to look elsewhere. However, for fans wanting to know the origin of the cannibals, this installment provides a passable answer.
Screenshots
👍 Pros
- +Brutal and varied kill scenes
- +Eerie atmosphere of the abandoned hospital
- +Prequel that interestingly tells the villains' origin
👎 Cons
- −Shallow and illogical characters
- −Unrealistic special effects and fake blood
- −Repetitive plot not different from previous installments
Top Cast
FAQ
Wrong Turn 4 is a prequel (set before the first film). You can watch it as the first in the series.
The film was released in Thailand in 2011 under the title 'หวีดเขมือบคน 4: ปลุกโหดโรงเชือดสยอง'.
It's scary in a straightforward horror way, with lots of blood and gore, but not deeply haunting.
