Plot
Trapped in an isolated gas station by a voracious Splinter parasite that transforms its still living victims into deadly hosts, a young couple and an escaped convict must find a way to work together to survive this primal terror.
Release Year: 2008
Rating: 6.2/10 (11,886 voted)
Critic's Score: 58/100
Director:
Toby Wilkins
Stars: Shea Whigham, Jill Wagner, Paulo Costanzo
Storyline While camping in the woods, Polly Watt and her clumsy boyfriend Seth Belzer damage their tent. They decide to spend the night in a low-budget motel. Meanwhile the criminals, Lacey Belisle and Dennis Farell, have trouble with their runaway car while heading to Platt and they walk on the lonely road. When Polly passes by Lacey, she stops the car and the couple is rendered by Dennis. However, Polly hits something in the road and while replacing the tire, they are attacked by a weird splinter. The car overheats and they stop in a gas station, where they are trapped by zombies, victims of the splinter parasite.
Writers: Ian Shorr, Kai Barry
Cast: Charles Baker
-
Blake Sherman Jr.
Jill Wagner
-
Polly Watt
Paulo Costanzo
-
Seth Belzer
Shea Whigham
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Dennis Farell
Rachel Kerbs
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Lacey Belisle
Laurel Whitsett
-
Sheriff Terri Frankel
Opening Weekend: $9,517
(USA)
(31 October 2008)
(4 Screens)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
At the end of the movie Farrell gives Seth the key to a lock box in a bank in Platt and tells him to go there to get his nest egg to give to the trucker's wife. The address listed on the tag is 1060 W. Addison. This is the address for Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, IL.
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes:
At (01:00:05) Just after Dennis' arm has been cut off you can clearly see him hiding his actual arm beside him, just behind the special effect amputated arm.
Quotes: Lacey Belisle:
Speed up, or I will blow a hole in you big enough to watch TV through.
User Review
Good acting and good script with mediocre effects
Rating: 7/10
This movie is stuck somewhere between a theatrical release-quality film
and a direct to DVD movie, but much better than your ordinary Sci-Fi
channel special.
The acting is top quality. All characters, especially the one portrayed
by Shea, are portrayed exceptionally well. The plot keeps you glued to
your seat, and you can't wait to see what happens next or how they will
think of a way out of their predicament.
The only problems lie in the filming of the "monster" and to a lesser
degree, the sound. I'm not a personal fan of the "flicker" style of
filming so it may work for others. I prefer a fluid style of filming
throughout the entire film. It's hard to keep track of the events
occurring when things "flash" around rapidly.
But if you can overlook it's extremely minor flaws, you're in for a
treat with this one. The acting and the central theme of the plot are
strong enough to overcome its shortcomings.
My final ratings: Quality: 7 Entertainment level: 7 Overall: 7
Consensus: This might be Toby Wilkins' break as a writer/director and
is a standout performance for Shea Whigham
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