Writer, Director, Actor, Warren Fast (Saving Grace) takes charge of his next feature wearing all 3 hats by attempting to turn the table on the stereotype killer on the road movie. 

The woven tale unfolds with a young woman (Caitlin Carmichael) encounters a hitchhiker (Ryan Knudson), both with whom come from a troubled past. The sticking point of the movie which separates the two being the paths that each has chosen to shirk the trauma that they carry. The journey they take leads them embroiled in a police manhunt for a notorious serial killer somewhere along the highway. What we’re promised is a fight for survival but ultimately simmers without coming to the boil.

Whilst Carmichael should be applauded for her take on The Driver and the non formulaic components to her character, all this comes unhinged by Knudsen’s bland Hitchhiker and Fast’s over-vigilant design on twisting the tale and the expectations on stereotypes. Once you know this pattern the road travelled becomes all too familiar and as such all danger or thrill is lost.

All is not doomed to a dead end however, as we are treated to a Danielle Harris cameo (always a highlight) as a waitress at a diner and there are flickers of humour and moments of pace in amongst the tumbleweeds, so keep your eyes peeled if you are considering getting behind the wheel for this one.

The Prognosis:

While it is evident that Fast is attempting to ignite the classic 80s and 90s action thrillers, it lacks pace, stalling at the starting line and struggles to catch up with the premise that he tries to sell the audience.

All Fast, but not necessarily that furious, lacking the punch in the gut that will hook you in and leaving the satisfying impact that we come to expect from the sub-genre.

• Saul Muerte