The Wrong Turn franchise has been a beloved slasher series since 2003. Cannibals living in the backwoods of West Virginia want nothing more than to survive, raise a family, and eat. Let’s talk about “Wrong Turn 2021” and the people in The Foundation. But firstly, let’s address the most common thread of chatter about the film after its release:
- It should be a standalone movie,
- It’s not the same as the original movies and
- It sucked.
All valid points, except Wrong Turn 2021 never claimed to be part of the original movie series. It’s a reboot and by definition, this means the creator Alan B. McElroy, writer for the very first installment in 2003 based the newest film on the concept but changed the storyline. It doesn’t need to refer back to the same source material as a remake does. A reboot is an idea of trying to take any of the superficial elements they liked and turn them into something different. A reboot is associated with the title or a character. In this case, it was the title. As for the third point. I don’t think Wrong Turn 2021 sucked at all.
Why Wrong Turn 2021 Is A Worthy Reboot
Mother of Movies is a fan of most of the Wrong Turn franchise titles (except of course for number 6.) I like dopey predators and the idea of “goddam hipster freaks” joining forces to ambush and eat unsuspecting groups of people. But the newest horror movie has more than just hicksploitation. Director Mike P. Nelson takes the sentiment and levels it up. For his directorial sophomore feature film after The Domestics, there is a lot to like.
While I was initially anticipating a more intense and violent direction for the film, I was pleasantly surprised by its restraint. The inclusion of intelligent, clever, and skilled characters was a brilliant decision. I truly appreciated the diversity in casting, with the inclusion of a gay couple and a biracial couple. It’s refreshing to see a level playing field when it comes to the fate of the characters.
One of the film’s strengths lies in its narrative. The script is exceptionally well-crafted, and the conversations feel authentic and well-considered. It’s a common annoyance in horror films, but in “Wrong Turn” (2021), the characters themselves become intriguing focal points rather than mere targets for gruesome deaths. I found myself invested in the various character arcs and thoroughly enjoyed how the story unfolded.
The Foundation – This Civilization Has Poise
The Foundation civilizations themselves have not formed as astutely as everything else in the Wrong Turn universe. At times a contradiction to their ethos. Their traps and shenanigans overshadowed their lifestyle choices. In addition, the traps themselves weren’t new, and they weren’t things I hadn’t seen before. By the time we got to the courtroom, I couldn’t stop thinking about why they would roll a giant spiked log toward a bunch of hikers if they weren’t indeed menacing. I also wasn’t much of a fan of the quandary created over the act of killing.
Especially in the face of the threats they encountered and the shed they found full of what can only be concluded to be storage for the victims of the place they were in. Seems mighty manipulative-killer-y to me. And despite being somewhat underwhelmed by the vigor of our heroine Jen in the finale, I loved the way it played out. Without going into spoiler territory for those who are still debating whether to watch ‘Wrong Turn’, the final scenes were in a word, cool.
I give Wrong Turn 2021
3.75 Not sure whether Ruth is ready for a playdate yet out of 5
