SHUTTLE: DVD

SYNOPSIS:
When Mel (Peyton List) and Jules (Cameron Goodman) return from a girls' weekend vacation, they find themselves stranded at the airport, late on a rain-drenched night. Wanting nothing more than to get home safe and sound, they board an airport shuttle with a helpful driver (Tony Curran). But what begins as a short ride home slowly descends into darkness, leading to a series of terrifying events that leave Mel and Jules fighting for their lives, and hurtles them towards a shocking conclusion.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
Well conceived thriller, Shuttle takes the familiar situation and develops it into terrifying ordeal, with the 'nice man' who looks helpful turning into the baddie. It's the classic recipe of girls in danger and no avenue for help, but it's very well done. Many of us will have experienced the airport hassle of a lost bag, delaying our journey even more. When Mel (Peyton List) and Jules (Cameron Goodman) return from a Mexican weekend and get on a shuttle bus ... this important set up is carefully directed by writer/director Edward Anderson, hooking us in the process. The girls are pretty, the circumstances familiar, and the girls are not alone - it's not too obvious as a device, but the tension is tangible.

The screenplay sets up a series of escape opportunities for the captives, which helps fan the flames of fear. Tony Curran is excellent as the baddie shuttle driver with bad intentions, the two girls are great, as are the supports.

Shuttle was screened at the South x South West Film Festival, in Austin, Texas, where it elicited mixed reviews, but that's to be expected. Anderson builds from a gentle base and escalates the horror as we go; this is entirely acceptable, and the genre is well served by his style. Performances are above average, and the craftsmanship is great, especially considering the challenges of night settings and a moving shuttle bus with half a dozen characters on board.

There are a few slurs and missteps, and the final sequence is credibility/logic-flawed but it's still a horror fans' feast and delivers a sobering, unexpected (but logical) ending.

Published March 26, 2009