IN BRIEF: A sadistic film about road rage that crashes and burns.
JIM'S REVIEW: (NOT RECOMMENDED) When discussing the merits of Unhinged, a gory and useless crime thriller, one can only acknowledge that its primary claim to fame was that it was the first film in 2020 to be released in the middle of the pandemic, in late August. Its sole purpose was to lure moviegoers back to the movie theaters. That tactic didn't work, and neither does this lousy movie.
Or perhaps, the film's major distinction might just be the filmmaker's creative ability to stage massive car accidents with a non-stop frequency that could make any race car enthusiast absolutely giddy waiting for that screeching sound of crashing metal and overturned vehicles soaring and spinning into the air. Call it a cinematic manual for car crash dummies.
Or, better yet, Unhinged may be merely junk food for sadists who love to see violence brutally inflicted onto others with grisly close-ups of multiple bloody deaths.
Whatever you call it, this movie is bad.
The slim and dim-witted story by Carl Ellsworth involves a supreme case of road rage that spirals out of control as Rachel Flynn (Caren Pistorius) cuts off Tom Cooper (an obese Russell Crowe) while taking her son Kyle (Gabriel Bateman) to school. Rachel won't apologize for her misdeed, so Tommy Boy enacts vengance.
As his crime spree progresses and the body count rises, so does the movie's lack of logic. Unhinged quickly veers of the road without any semblance of rational explanation. It becomes a series of outrageous car chases and grisly murders. Its hackneyed plot is contrived and totally baffling. A few questions come to mind: Where are the police during the many violent car crashes? Why doesn't the victim go directly to them for help as she could numerous times during their numerous encounters? How does this psycho avoid any direct law enforcement encounters? Where are the crowds of bystanders that could have intervened? How is he so easily able to invade her life and cause such havoc in her neighborhood and on the freeways without any notice or repercussions? Why am I watching this garbage?
This is Derrick Borte's directorial debut. Better luck next time in choosing a worthwhile script. To his credit, Mr. Borte does keep the action moving, but he seems more enamored of the graphic bloodletting and close-ups of impaled body parts than conveying a cohesive story or any real character development. Mr. Crowe, the film's chief draw, has also seen better days. He plays his character as a one-note villain intent on mayhem and never creates a nuanced character of a troubled man dealing with mental illness issues. The Academy may want to take back his previously well deserved Oscar after this debacle.
Unhinged is the farthest thing from a joy ride you will ever have. This nasty and unpleasant film may be about road rage, but all it creates is movie rage by experiencing this truly repellent film. Avoid. (GRADE: D+)
JIM'S REVIEW: (NOT RECOMMENDED) When discussing the merits of Unhinged, a gory and useless crime thriller, one can only acknowledge that its primary claim to fame was that it was the first film in 2020 to be released in the middle of the pandemic, in late August. Its sole purpose was to lure moviegoers back to the movie theaters. That tactic didn't work, and neither does this lousy movie.
Or perhaps, the film's major distinction might just be the filmmaker's creative ability to stage massive car accidents with a non-stop frequency that could make any race car enthusiast absolutely giddy waiting for that screeching sound of crashing metal and overturned vehicles soaring and spinning into the air. Call it a cinematic manual for car crash dummies.
Or, better yet, Unhinged may be merely junk food for sadists who love to see violence brutally inflicted onto others with grisly close-ups of multiple bloody deaths.
Whatever you call it, this movie is bad.
The slim and dim-witted story by Carl Ellsworth involves a supreme case of road rage that spirals out of control as Rachel Flynn (Caren Pistorius) cuts off Tom Cooper (an obese Russell Crowe) while taking her son Kyle (Gabriel Bateman) to school. Rachel won't apologize for her misdeed, so Tommy Boy enacts vengance.
As his crime spree progresses and the body count rises, so does the movie's lack of logic. Unhinged quickly veers of the road without any semblance of rational explanation. It becomes a series of outrageous car chases and grisly murders. Its hackneyed plot is contrived and totally baffling. A few questions come to mind: Where are the police during the many violent car crashes? Why doesn't the victim go directly to them for help as she could numerous times during their numerous encounters? How does this psycho avoid any direct law enforcement encounters? Where are the crowds of bystanders that could have intervened? How is he so easily able to invade her life and cause such havoc in her neighborhood and on the freeways without any notice or repercussions? Why am I watching this garbage?
This is Derrick Borte's directorial debut. Better luck next time in choosing a worthwhile script. To his credit, Mr. Borte does keep the action moving, but he seems more enamored of the graphic bloodletting and close-ups of impaled body parts than conveying a cohesive story or any real character development. Mr. Crowe, the film's chief draw, has also seen better days. He plays his character as a one-note villain intent on mayhem and never creates a nuanced character of a troubled man dealing with mental illness issues. The Academy may want to take back his previously well deserved Oscar after this debacle.
Unhinged is the farthest thing from a joy ride you will ever have. This nasty and unpleasant film may be about road rage, but all it creates is movie rage by experiencing this truly repellent film. Avoid. (GRADE: D+)