The Fearway

How can you screw something up with such a great location?

Two words: Script. Acting.

The woman playing the waitress - while attractive - should never act again. At least not on the screen or in front of a theater audience. The subpar- Twilight Zone type of a script leads much to be desired. Seek out any of Rod Serling's original series over this badly mishandled dreck. This was way too talky. Less is more. We didn't need to hear half of the foolish words the lead actors were muttering.

The villain was idiotic. The scene with him growling in his car and "magically" hurling lightning bolts on the telephone wires was handled in such a goofy, amateurish way I almost turned off the set right then and there.

Easy pass. Please skip. Watch Spielberg's "Duel" if you want to see an excellent film about a person escaping a crazed motorist on a desert highway.

The Fearway begins with a couple driving in the desert experiencing an aggressive driver until they pull off at a diner. Then, their trouble starts. They attempt to continue on their way, but somehow they end up back at the diner.

So, this movie attempts to provide some type of horror, but the elements dont create any horrorific moments. Supernatural elements leading to metaphysical pondering. Consider No Exit but quite pedestrian at heart. They dialogue snd plotting tend toward the stilted. I think they filmmakers were trying for mysterious, but instead, they hit upon trite and vague, starting the viewer down the path of pretention.

This film tries to present something greater than what the parts total. Acting is subpar, but earnest. And that doesn't help the production move away from annoying. There is no fear on The Fearway.

The Fearway is the feature length debut from fledgling director Robert Gajic.

It tells the story of a young, soon to be newlywed, couple, who find themselves caught in a loop, surrounded by a handful of seemingly malevolent characters- not all of of which mean to do them harm- while traveling down an isolated stretch of Highway 66.

While trapped in this bizarre experience, they find themselves being chased down by a demonic looking man, driving a black muscle car.

From whom they can't seem to escape.

Their only moments of respite come when they pull off at the Last Chance Rest Stop...where they meet a number of other odd characters.

Eventually, they do manage to put the pieces together, and figure out what is happening to them.

Leaving them to fight for a final chance to escape, what would otherwise be a grim fate.

Unfortunately the acting is pretty mid across the board.

While the storyline is a bit too predictable.

Making the whole experience a bit underwhelming.

But, with that being said...it's a valiant attempt at a first feature.

With some decent moments of cinematography.

Though certainly a film you won't be disappointed with if you miss.

2.5 out of 10.

Sarah (Shannon Dalonzo) and Michael are driving down Route 66 in the desert. They are being chased by a crazed man driving a black muscle car. They stop at a diner in the middle of nowhere with its cast of characters. Sarah and Michael seem to be in a permanent loop of being chased and stopping at the diner.

The premise is a little interesting and Kafkaesque. I like the general idea of it in theory. Sarah and Michael need to be more in depth. They do need some more car action. The diner could do more. The movie could do more. It's all rather thin. The writing needs to be more to fill out the movie.

Slobodan Gajic's The Fearway attempts to deliver a supernatural thriller with elements that feel like a nod to Stephen King's mysterious style and echoes of the series From. While the concept of being trapped in an infinite time loop has its inherent intrigue, this film falls short in execution.

The acting is notably bad, with performances that lack depth and fail to engage the viewer emotionally. The plot is far too predictable, making the "twists" feel telegraphed and lacking impact. If you're hoping for surprises, you won't find them here.

That said, the film's simplicity and short runtime (a brisk 81 minutes) work to its advantage. It's a "sit back, expect nothing, and enjoy" kind of movie, provided you're willing to forgive its shortcomings. But for those not into time loops or seeking richer storytelling, skipping The Fearway might be the better option.

Ultimately, it's a film that doesn't demand much from its audience, which can be a double-edged sword. If you're curious and looking for something light, give it a shot. Otherwise, there's little to miss here.