SHORTCUT

Cinemavixion Review

Alessio Liguori's "Shortcut" plunges viewers into a visceral nightmare where a simple detour transforms into a desperate fight for survival. The film masterfully builds tension as a group of five teenagers find themselves stranded on an isolated road after their school bus is forced off its usual route. When a fallen tree blocks their path, their journey takes a terrifying turn with the emergence of a ravenous creature from the surrounding woods. Liguori skillfully uses the confined space of the bus to amplify the claustrophobia and dread, as the monstrous entity systematically picks off the adults, leaving the students to confront their own fears and differences. The narrative wisely focuses on the teenagers' struggle to band together, forcing them to overcome personal conflicts to outwit the relentless predator. While the creature design and some of the effects might lean towards the B-movie aesthetic, the film's strength lies in its relentless pacing and commitment to its horror premise. Despite a modest reception, with an IMDb rating of 4.1/10 and a Metacritic score of 26/100, "Shortcut" offers a solid creature feature experience for fans of the genre, delivering scares and a suspenseful chase against a formidable foe.