It begins with the introduction of Cliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich), a newly married couple honeymooning on a Hawaiian island famous for its remote trails and gorgeous isolated beaches. We first see clips of the wedding video, friends and family wishing them well on their future together, then we follow them as they arrive on the remote island after a stop in Oahu. They are in a rented Jeep, having a blast and cruising along the road headed for a popular trail route. Along the way they meet Kale (Chris Hemsworth) and Cleo (Marley Shelton), a rather seedy looking couple looking for a ride. Cliff and Cyd are not exactly willing to give them a ride, a feeling sensed by Kale, who forces Cleo out of the car.
Our couple moves on and once they hit the trail they meet Nick (Timothy Olyphant) and Gina (Kiele Sanchez). It is right about this time that they learn that a newly married couple, on their honeymoon, was murdered back in Oahu with the culprits believed to be running off into the wilderness. Was it Kale and Cleo? Is it Nick and Gina? Is it possible that Cliff and Cyd are traveling with the killers? I mean, Kale may have had that creepy loner with a touch of violence vibe, but Nick is a highly trained soldier who suffered some brain trauma and does not seem to be all there.
The screenplay leads you down a number of different paths. It moves slowly, deliberately, allowing you time to consider a variety of possibilities. Some of them would be too easy, others appear like cheats. Somewhere in between the lies and the cheats is the truth. The pacing allows a delicious amount of uneasiness to enter the equation. It is all about atmosphere, it lets paranoia prey on logic. Truth is obscured in a cloud of questions. No matter how hard you look, the answers will not always be apparent.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments