“It would be great if I didn’t...” “Whispers of the Road of Horrors” (the original name sounds much simpler – Hush, i.e. “Silence”) is a low-budget debut of Mark Tonderai, who worked for a long time for actors. However, to be honest, Mark did not become an actor, because the only truly worthwhile, expensive and star project for the Briton was participation in the film by Shekhar Kapoor “Four Feathers”, but there he got the role, which is usually offered more to the extra than a talented actor – a professional. Apparently, therefore, sitting without work, Tonderai decided to try himself in new roles, because in addition to directing, he decided to take on the script. Deciding to give the newcomer a chance, the producers found in their bins not a small amount of 1 million pounds, throwing him into production. So what happened? We'll find out right now.
Night. On the highway occasionally come across passing cars. Zakes is an ordinary guy pasting posters from a big company. In his BMW, he is not alone, his girlfriend Beth sits next to him. A few more points and you can turn with a calm conscience towards your home. But soon everything goes awry - when another truck overtakes the car, its back doors slightly open and Zakes sees a girl in a cage asking for help. The second moment is more like a minute, the guy clearly saw everything, can not believe his own eyes. Having decided to give this case to the police, BMW calmly moves on, and the driver begins to forget about what is happening. At the next stop, the hero as always goes to glue the poster, and then argues with Beth. And then he sees that van. Trying to find the girl, Zekes soon realizes that she has become the new victim of kidnappers. The chase begins, the journey begins every second.
The film was directed by Mark Tonderai. Mark worked well, despite the small budget of the project. Although, if you think about it, it does not reveal anything new: the film does not have special effects or any aspects that should be spent a lot of money. No, Tonderai is not a fool, he knows the classics perfectly and as a result makes a kind of mixture of the iconic "Traveler", "Crash" Jonathan Mostow, "Wow ride" John Dahl or the Australian "Wolf Pit" Greg McLean, shot for less than a penny. Why come up with something new when you can fill the gaps in the script with classics? You didn’t have to spend much, except for a few broken car glass, tires, a little makeup and props in a couple of scenes. The director manages not to show himself badly, sometimes manages to embody the necessary atmosphere, which can be observed in the scene of the very first hide-and-seek near the diner. The problem is that the whole film is either catch-up (a selfless hero rushes after the killer, having no plan) and hide-and-seek (the hero is scared and hides from the villain). In a word, the debutant was almost unable to surprise, since all the moves to develop the plot, the entire atmosphere, had already been applied over a decade ago. Yes, there, even the remake of the "Traveler" looks much more colorful, interesting and fresh. The script of the same Tonderai, like the film, does not shine with originality. The idea is beaten, almost cleanly taken from the "Accident", the further development of the plot already gives out a cut (the decision to enter the house) with constant stringing of templates. Funny fact - despite a dozen calls for help to the police, the guards never came (once they appeared, though they were not called by the main character). The strange behavior of Zekes, of course, there is no weapon with him, but this is not a reason to rush to the ground, and at the sight of a maniac show a nervous grimace and run away. A very strange act occurs near the end, when the wounded hero, who is in his lair, for some reason, dials the number of the kidnapper, chirps a proud line, and then runs with breathlessness to play another hide-and-seek game. In addition, many questions remain unanswered. The very attempt to make a script is commendable, but was it worth it to make a film based on this script, when all the nooks and crannies have already been checked? The cameraman Philip Blobach does his best to successfully shoot each scene. Although the whole film consists of hide-and-seek and catch-up, Blobach atmospherically approaches the screening of the scene. For example, the final “hide” between the containers is shown well, slowly, pumping up the atmosphere. Perhaps the chase was not so interesting, but hide-and-seek is made with intelligence and special interest. The music of composer Theo Green is quite standard. Most compositions could be heard before, only they were slightly quieter or louder, can be slightly modified. Music could become another important fact for conveying the atmosphere, if Green could come up with something better, more interesting, set, felt the right rhythm of events.
Of the entire cast, only three people can be identified. This, of course, William Ashe, who played the role of Zekes, Christine Bottomley, who was taken hostage, and Andreas Wisnivski as the kidnapper. Maybe Bottomli or Wisnivski were not so active in the tape (the first viewer sees only at the beginning, the second only in the hood), they contribute. Beth is an incentive for the main character. If the girl had not been abducted, then none of this would have happened, everyone would have peacefully gone about their business. As for Wisnivski, it is not difficult to guess, his role is no less important for the atmosphere, the development of the plot. Terrible played Claire Keelen, thanks to which from the very first minutes of her appearance everything becomes too predictable, and games Keelen leaves much to be desired. Not a bad performance by the cast, mostly William Ashe, for his character this night will be very hot and heartbreaking.
Total:
Whispering Horror Road is a standard passing thriller where, unfortunately, there is nothing new. I wanted to expect something more original, but absolutely everything here is imbued with classics of the genre or films released a little earlier. No, the debut of Mark Tonderai does not make you say “wow” after watching, rather leads to a slight unconsciousness from the lack of ideas of the director and screenwriter. Here, as in all films of the genre, you can note the acting, the good work of the operator, who gave the tape several interesting moments (the same hide-and-seek), otherwise the project was not remembered. You can recommend only those viewers who are not tired of repetitions or an omnivorous fan of the genre, if there are fans of the director (which can be doubted) or the cast. Everyone else, at their own request.
Thank you for listening!