Southbound

Today we're talking about:

Southbound (2015).

Southbound is a horror anthology movie in five parts. I am forced to spoil it a little, but most spoilers are easily spotted and somewhat obvious.

Part 1 – The Way Out.

Two men, Mitch and Jack, are driving down the desert road, harrowed and bloody. Mitch sees these weird skeletal angels that have no lower bodies hovering in the desert. They stop at gas station to get cleaned up, but things take a startling turn which leads into:

Part 2 – Siren.

An all girl jazz band, The White Tights, are staying the night in the motel next to the above mentioned gas station. They are on the way to a gig, but their van breaks down. The girls are young, wild and honestly kind of stupid. “Why is it so hot?” one asks... in the desert. A creepy couple offers to put them up and help with the van, so they go with them. The couple dress and live as if it was the 60's and very soon things get pretty damn creepy. One girl, Sadie, runs away into:

Part 3 – The Accident.

Lucas is driving on the same road late at night while on the phone with his wife and accidentally hits Sadie. She's badly hurt and they are in the middle of nowhere. Lucas calls 911 but doesn't know where they are, so they can't send an ambulance. He is instructed to bring Sadie along to the nearest town. A town that happens to be abandoned. All the lights are on, but no one is there. He finds an equally abandoned clinic and fights to save her life. Ultimately he leaves and we run right into:

Part 4 – Jailbreak.

A scruffy old man, Danny, bursts into the local bar with a shotgun searching for his sister Jesse. The bartender takes him to where she is and he drags her with him despite her protests. Blood is shed as they get stuck in the desert, where she tells him they aren't allowed to be. Truths are told and Jesse drives back to town where she sees a pretty blonde girl, Jem, and we go to:

Part 5 – The Way In.

A married couple and their daughter Jem are celebrating that Jem is going to college. They go to their holiday home when they find masked and armed men outside. They call the police but soon the men break in and all hell breaks loose.

All in all, Southbound is a really cool little horror movie. It has an indie feel and dares to try some new things which delights an old horror hound like me. The actors are all good and the music is top notch. Southbound managed to surprise me once or twice even though a lot of obvious things and tropes happen as well. Accident is my favorite segment and it's genuinely one of the most stressful things I've seen on film. The movie is pretty gory at times, but that is to be expected in horror I suppose. There is a real sense of purgatory in this desert setting, and it seems like everything happens in one night. What I also appreciate is that the movie doesn't explain things. No exposition, no nothing. Just a strange and bloody ride that's Southbound.

So, do I recommend this movie? Yes, without a doubt. If you're not a horror fan, avoid it, but I assume you would anyway. I was really impressed with this movie about redemption and getting what you deserve.

That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great week!