MOVIE REVIEW: WRONG TURN 6: LAST RESORT / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: VALERI MILEV / SCREENPLAY: FRANK H. WOODWARD / STARRING: SADIE KATZ, ANTHONY ILOTT, AQUEELA ZOLL / UK RELEASE DATE: OCT 20TH (DVD)
Wait, Wrong Turn 6, you say? Against all odds, the critic-proof hillbilly franchise returns, this time riffing on Texas Chainsaw 3D for a steamy tale of lust, heritage and kissing cousins. For the first time, the series’ inbreeding is brought to the fore as troubled orphan Danny discovers a hitherto unknown inheritance, buried deep in the Appalachian mountains: his very own spa resort, run by creepy caretakers Sally and Jackson. Is all as it seems, or is something a little more sinister afoot? Well, six films in, you should have a pretty good idea by now.
At this point, everyone should know exactly what to expect from a Wrong Turn film – heaps of gore, lashings of nudity and an often uncomfortable meeting of the two during the kill sequences. Wrong Turn 6 (6!) doesn’t disappoint in that respect, being the most sexed-up entry in the franchise so far. Remarkably, however, it manages to do so without feeling even nearly as rapey and unpleasant as its immediate predecessor. Doug Bradley is nowhere to be seen this time around; Sally and Jackson are the outwardly normal parent figures, making it anyone’s guess as to where that leaves the timeline. Well played by Chris Jarvis and Sadie Katz, the pair ensure that the bored, coasting Bradley isn’t missed at all. Elsewhere, Three Finger and his mutie siblings remain on the outside of the action, taking a slightly more reduced role but turning up any time things threaten to take a turn for the dull.
No fear of that, not with the bizarre story, odd casting choices (hello, Roxanne Pallett from Emmerdale, doing nudity and an American accent) and shocking violence. The series has always been famed for its inventive gore sequences, and Wrong Turn 6 certainly doesn’t let the side down. There’s enough here to rival even the fourth film’s grotesque fondue scene; which, for the uninitiated, is really saying something. It looks remarkably good too, considering how late we are into the game, and how shoddy and cheap the last film was. The spa resort and surrounding woodlands (actually filmed in Bulgaria) are a neat setting, giving kids and hillbilly alike plenty of room to run about, be it in search of nooky or salvation. For all the snootiness and disdain one could direct towards the series, you have to give director Valeri Milev and writer Frank H. Woodward credit for not simply resting on their laurels with a lazy rehash of the first film. If anything, this is one of the best entries yet. Of course, Wrong Turn 6 won’t be for everyone – it’s crude, cruel and creepy, packed full of the various nasty tricks the franchise has accrued over the years. This one will win the series no new fans. Those of us who have been there from the beginning, however, should love it. And, yes, it leaves the door wedged wide open for a(nother) sequel.
Expected Rating: 6 out of 10
Actual Rating:
