While there has been a rampant amount of Horror Anthology films in recent years, none of them have even come close to achieving the success both in execution and horror as Southbound. Taking place in the secluded desert, Southbound tells five tales of terror, each interlocking with one and other in a way that is so much more seamless than say, the VHS series or Tales of Halloween. It doesn't feel accurate to call Southbound an anthology horror film, just one where the mysterious setting is the central character and the weary travelers are victims of its blood-lust. Calling Southbound an ambiguous horror film may be a bit of a stretch, but the film understands the importance of mystery, delivering an atmospheric setting of supernatural proportions, one where its setting, figuratively and literally, becomes hell on earth. Southbound isn't immune to the same problems many low-budget horror films can have, like shoddy acting and subpar special effects, but it simply doesn't matter given the film's ability to deliver everything a horror fan wants in tension, mystery, and a gleeful amount of gore. While it certainly feels misguided to even compare the quality of the five stories, I can't resist, as I was particularly blown away by the 2nd and 3rd parts, in particularly the beautiful way they transition. Without spoiling anything for those who haven't seen it, Part 3 has to be my favorite segment, a simple yet truly terrifying segment that is hilarious, ghastly and gleefully gorey. The sequence taps into a primal fear which many individuals are sure to have, milking it as long as possible in a truly one-of-a-kind way. As I mentioned above, Southbound's stories are connected not only by transitions, but this mysterious area of he desert, tapping into the primal aspects of right vs. wrong, and the idea that you reap what you sow, with many of the victims being individuals who deserved what they got. Fast-paced, lively, and mysterious, Southbound basically drops the mic on the horror anthology film, understanding that its mysterious setting of supernatural proportions is its main character, and its greatest attribute when it comes to seemlessly connecting the five stories seamlessly.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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