David Starr
"Dead End" comes across from the blurb at least like a modern domestic drama that descends into a sort of "Captivity" or "Devil's Rejects" and I suppose anyone into that sort of extreme violence and depravity will be left more than a little disappointed by "Dead End". Cos, for all the presuppositions that a viewer might make about this film before watching, it isn't like either of the aforementioned 'blood-soaked' violence heavy films. It is a lot smarter than that in my opinion. There's substantially more to this film than meets the eye for anyone smart enough to actually dig a bit deeper beyond the obvious on screen action in my view. It subtly deconstructs the main character, Carl (played by Wil Johnson) and seems to lay bare his soul - pretty much presenting him as a total ass who has f****d up the most important thing in his life, his family, by being a bit of a dog, a pervert, and a money hungry son*****ch.* SPOILERS * The disenchanted family situation is something I can relate to - arguing with my wife, annoyed by the constant whining of my kids, thinking that the grass is a greener affair on the other side of the fence (I mean which guy hasn't right?), getting riled at absolutely f**k all most of the time. It's a stress thing I guess. The multi-racial tensions of seemingly two single parents uniting adds a further dynamic but the backstory to that isn't really important. It's all about the present and the lack of unity (caused by his needs coming before anyone else's). The diner on the other hand is something pretty ingenious - it doesn't really exist - well, except in Carl's head I guess (they pass a diner on the journey) and neither do any of the characters in the diner. I got the impression they were representing Carl - all the facets of him that make up the scheming b*****d that he is. Maybe as a way of denying responsibility for splitting his family (and in reality killing them in the accident) he tries to offload the guilt to his 'other personalities' which are given 'life' in the film following his run in with the carnival people on the road - essentially the last people he came into contact with before falling asleep at the wheel. That's a clever set up. Not seen that before. I noticed little clues in the film all along when I bought the DVD and went through it - motifs - dog statues in the home (although we never hear "Dog" mentioned by name do we?), the necklace worn by all the girls in his f**k fantasy (and the old hag in the diner), the long haired dude (Diggs I think) basically put down all the time by Jamie Foreman's character (a bit like Carl and his overbearing wife). The creepy boy, Herschel, was a bit like the guy played by Elija Wood in Sin City, but here a pervert trying not to be a pervert. I thought that was a reflection of Carl looking in on his step-daughter but trying his best not to peek. The slutty girl, Mamon, was clearly a representation of temptation with all her bits hanging out. The kissing of the step-daughter was clearly a bloke fantasy in Carl's head - a memory from home hearing the girl on the phone to her girlfriend. I've seen reviewers mention the hell scene at the end and proclaim "what the f**k !" It isn't that hard to understand is it ? It seems to represent, if you haven't worked it out already by that time, the purgatory that Carl is in. The melding girls had me a bit confused but they must be both of Carl's girlfriends or something, though I did see the step-daughter's face in there as well. Did he get to sleep with her too I wonder ? Is that the reason for his guilt ? Only the filmmakers know that I presume.There were loads more references to pick up on. A lot of thought clearly went into writing this. I might be completely wrong of course, but that's how it came across to me - an intelligently written, well made film more like a journey into David Lynch or Lars von Trier territory than into the ordinary blood soaked crass extreme violence of Rob Zombie, Marcus Nispel or other lame, told before stories. And it was great to see Jamie Foreman doing something different - not the boring gangster trite that Brit independent film tends to produce all the time. And at least it isn't another zombie movie either - though "Un-dead End" could be a bloody outing and has a good ring to it. I take my hat off to the filmmakers for trying to do something different and on most counts (apart from the odd low rent cgi moment) succeeding at it. But given the budget that can be excused. So if you have the patience to switch on, watch, listen, and piece it together "Dead End" is an entertaining effort of first time cinema from this writer/director - doing something so 'odd' was a pretty ballsy move. And it does look rich and saturated on film. Love a good film - way better looking than some digital stuff that gets made these days. My advice, go in knowing what not to expect, be prepared to give it a go, find all the clues, and look at it much deeper than merely the gloss of what you can SEE on screen. The meaning lies deeper, and it's an analogical and metaphorical journey into darkness not a literal one I think. If you understand that, and avoid having a beer whilst watching (it'll only serve to muddy your understanding further) you'll get where these filmmakers were coming from in my humble opinion.
shaun242
We are often reminded that we have have the best film technicians here in the UK and indeed we have a solid movie history but so often we have trouble marrying that expertise with well produced movies. And this is a prime example. This was looking dire from the outset with the woefully amateur acting but I thought I'd stay with it until the end but it turned out to be clichéd, unimaginative drivel. It's just a complete embarrassment from start to finish and apart from Jamie Foreman I did not recognise anyone else in this mess so maybe the rest of the ensemble were hired on the cheap to play the Hillbillies? Do we have Hillbillies in the UK? Anyway, don't waste your time.
DANIEL MANCHESTER
Dead End is over blown and weak on script. It centres around a fractious family car trip where mum and dad (Will Johnson and Angela Dixon) spend the whole time moaning at each other throughout. There teenage daughter (Frances Speedie) and son (Callum Anderson) are irritatingly miserable and grumpy.The journey takes longer than they had planned and at one point are overtaken by a convoy of travellers. This prompts dad into a confrontation which the family later regrets when they because ambushed by the travellers, tied up and torture. Sounds like a poor mans Rob Zombie movie doesn't it… Right! The family/gang lead by Jamie Foreman leads his motley and deranged family (Jon Campling, James Fisher, Lucy Drive and Jill Greenacre)… Told you Rob Zombie… Mr. Campling even adapts the voice… They all different aspect threatening or violence behaviour while their captors try their best to resist or escape. You kind of hope that it's going somewhere, that there's a deep meaning to it all but… what little there is does start to make sense as the intimidation progresses.Don't get me wrong it is not a total debacle, there are certain bits within Dead End/hard Shoulder to be commended. Mainly the performance of Jamie Foreman as a vicious villain. But there are also chunks of the movie that are simply poor… Cut it down – that's the best thing to do with this kind of low budget movie 75 minutes would be a max... then it would be much better.
ncfc1
well where do i start, Jamie Foreman from east enders is in it so it could be good, well i'm afraid it is not as good as i thought.i was expecting a lot more from this film. it was not bad, but really i was hoping for something far better. it was like nothing i have seen before,it started of with promise and then sort of went downhill from there the plot seemed OK at first, but it in my opinion went sort of off track it wasn't what i expected, the acting was good and there is a surprise to the ending which made me think what have i just wasted my time on this film? would i recommend you watch it no i wouldn't but make your own mind up. i was disappointed 4 out of 10.
