Shortcut

An Italian/German co-production with a British cast (so it has broader international appeal) and a horror/fantasy vibe. It's a pretty typical Italian thing to do, sadly these projects rarely deliver. There certainly is enough potential here, but when it comes down to the details, Shortcut falters.

Five kids are on a school bus when the driver has to take a little detour because trees are blocking the road. A little further down the road a dead animal forces them to stop again. This time, the driver is overpowered by a serial killer on the loose. When the bus stops in a dimly lit tunnel for a third time, they have no idea what's waiting for them in the dark.

The cinematography is cool, the score is moody, and director Liguori's decision to go full-in on the atmosphere is one I wholeheartedly support. It's just that the film is a bit loud and messy, with makes it hard to build up tension, and the monster really looks pretty ridiculous. Other than that, I liked this quite a bit.