User reviews

So the first things you have to know about this movie are as follows: 1. It was supposed to have a sequel, but financial backing couldn't be drummed up, so it ends without an ending and will never be finished. See here for details as of 2013: http://goo.gl/Ba1gWH 2. It has all the trite expectations of a teen slasher flick with only one redeeming quality.

Now I am a horror and slasher fan, so I don't generally mind these things. But this one was over the top. Listed in no particular order of irritating:

*While trying to hide from a killer and be quiet, all the teens can do is scream at the top of their lungs.

* While running for help, teens run into an abandoned places where there is obviously going to be no help.

*Cops consistently "break up" even though there's no way any cop in their right mind would do such a thing.

*Somehow a very large city has only 2 cops who both work the night shift, and no one ever calls for backup!

*Cops clearly have no idea how to actually handle a gun as one of them could have shot his own head off several times and neither was holding it in a manner that would have involved any aim throughout the WHOLE movie. Even X Files got this right back in the 90s.

So what't the good part, the story development is well done and atmospheric. We flip back and forth from the teens (whom we obviously know are in danger) to the cops who bit by bit give the story of the killer. It was atmospheric as well and lacked the overdone movie style of giving the whole story of the killer near the beginning so that all viewers have to wait for is the inevitable deaths of most of the cast. This slow development, rather like a breadcrumb trail, allows the viewer to become involved in the story so that the irritating qualities of the teens can almost be passed over.

This movie Could have been Great! It's really creepy! It's well acted! It's well directed! The music is astoundingly good! St. Charles, Illinois never looked so good on the big-screen! However, watching Munger Road is kind of like watching The Blair Witch Project with the last 10 minutes of the film missing. The film is missing a conclusion. Munger Road does a wonderful job of creating tension, suspense and then pops all of that beautiful momentum like a balloon in your face without even attempting an adequate, plausible, or even fantastic explanation. It just ends! Which is really a big let down because most of this film is really good. So it you don't mind watching a good horror movie without an ending by all means check out Munger Road.

Had this movie sitting in my Netflix account for months, because it looked interesting, and the desperation to find some really good horror films. Went to it last night and stayed with it, then got into it, then it's abrupt ending. It brought up some remembrances of Jaws, Halloween, and yes I have no use for those films where you only have the view of one of the characters holding a camera. If the director meant to end the film this way, bad, bad, bad. Just about everything was left hanging. More should have been resolved. If his intention was to do a sequel, but the money dried up, then I'm sorry. You were getting there but it ended badly.

There are a LOT of stories, films, and documentaries about Munger Road. Watch something else. This movie has no ending. It was good until then. The missing ending did nothing but anger us and made us hate the entire movie. Here's a tip. People rarely like to wait a week to see the conclusion of a TV series "to be continued". I sure as hell don't want it in a movie. I don't care if I've spoiled it for those who haven't seen it. I hope they don't watch it specifically because this movie HAS NO ENDING. Screw that. I won't be watching a "sequel" either because now I don't care one fig what happened to any of those people. It had good acting. It was directed well. Proved to be scary at times. But will I watch it again or watch a sequel? NOT A CHANCE. Will I recommend it to others? NO WAY! I gave it one star because I had to give it a star. DON'T WATCH THIS MOVIE unless you LIKE being left hanging without resolution.

The other reviewers must be blind, friends or relatives of the writer/director of this film. I've never seen a film of any genre that had so many plot holes in it that it reminded me of a piece of Swiss cheese. Actually, there were two story lines playing out simultaneously that the writer could not tie together to save his life. I kept waiting for the film to improve but then gave up and watched in awe as it became more and more ridiculous and then ended in one huge mess. I kept thinking to myself how did this movie ever get out of pre-production without someone stepping in to doctor the script. I certainly wish I had the 86 minutes back of my life after watching this clunker, and I can only warn potential viewers to watch at their own risk.

Living in St. Charles I wanted to like this movie. The first shot of the movie was of the downtown area of St. Charles and the crowd went crazy. That was the most exciting part of the movie. From the first scene I had a bad feeling about the movie. I've seen a ton of horror movies that open with 2 people talking in a diner...I don't understand that. The movie tried to have a feel like Halloween, which it did a first, but there was nothing that was going on that was suspenseful, terrifying, gripping, or scary. I felt as bored as the kids waiting in the Jeep, throughout the entire movie. The movie really never goes anywhere, it just takes extremely long for anything to happen. I'm sure this was done to build suspense but all it did was bore me. There was nothing creative about this movie at all, basic camera work, horrible dialog and I wont even get into the ending. Horror is a tough genre to tackle in my opinion because there are so many that are just about blood, guts, and the coolest kill. That's not real horror to me. This movie tries to take a different shot at it, but fails. I highly recommend that you save your money and pass on this movie.

I went to see Munger Road because I'm a horror fan and I'm from the town where it's filmed.

Munger Road is well meaning and starts off with a typical premise. Serial killer escapes and returns to his hometown. Kids head off to scary road for some thrills encounter something horribly wrong.

It's obvious that wealthy dad was the key to getting this made, because as a writer and director Nicholas Smith is bottom of the barrel.

There are so many holes and so much stupidity on the parts of the characters watching was a chore and a bore.

Characters walking through tunnels arriving at roughly the same time other characters who drove to the same place made the plot preposterous too.

Also, the resolution was flimsy and unjustified.

Bad, bad, bad.

St. Charles, IL looked really cool though...

I had to see this movie since I live about 1 mile from munger road which is actually in Bartlett Illinois. The road and the myths and legends are known by many in the area. The scenery is very true to life and the acting is very good! Munger road, the railroad, and the St Charles scarecrow festival and surroundings all pretty realistic. I expected much less and was pleasantly surprised. It is spooky as is the road at times for some people. It's not a slice em up movie but it does really capture your attention and is pretty gripping at times. The camera work and sound was very well done for a low budget movie. The plot was well thought out as to leave a bit to the imagination as well as sequels. It's not that it does not have an ending so much as it has a future like a soap opera for creepy movies. I hope there is a sequel and I don't believe more money and bigger budget would even help a sequel. It was pretty cool with the realism minus all the Hollywood standard unrealistic girls falling down when chased, why didn't he shoot? kind of stuff. Kind of refreshing for once. I really liked it all in all. It was just a local director tired of the same old same old in my view. A really good job about the myths and legends as well as a plot of a returning criminal make it well worth the ticket.

Living in Illinois, I know where "Munger Road" is located but had never heard of its checkered backstory and the rumors surrounding it. Apparently, the story is that paranormal entities haunt a specific location where a Canadian Railway crosses a road called "Munger Road" in a rural area of Bartlett. While this urban legend is relatively small, it still should have a film made in its honor, shouldn't it? St. Charles native Nicholas Smith has written and directed an interesting but relatively bland entry into the paranormal genre of film, yet has accumulated an impressive amount of publicity for the project and has garnered a solid amount of revenue as well.

Munger Road focuses on two narratives (one that could exist on its own, the other one would be difficult to sustain a short film) jammed together. One story follows two local cops, investigating the area after a murderer has escaped from a prison bus and is running ramped through the town. The other centers around four thrill-seeking teenagers, two men, two women, all faceless, as they venture out to the spot I previously mentioned to crack the rumors about Munger Road.

So they do, and once they stop on the railroad tracks, they apply baby-powder to the bumper, shut the car's lights off, and wait as they expect a ghost to push them off the tracks into safety. After that event, once they have gotten video evidence that something did in fact push their car, they realize that their cell phones are now frozen, their car stalls, starts, then stalls for good, and they are stranded in the middle of nowhere in the dead of night. Now the fun begins.

One major problem with the picture is the lighting or lack thereof. The worst thing, I believe, that could happen with a horror movie, next to animal abuse, or a low amount of source lighting, rendering the picture as black, indistinct, and frustratingly unclear. I was reminded of the pitch dark sequences in Albino Farm, which were no help to the film's clunky narrative. Here, the scenes do not happen a lot, but they often exist when the suspense is increasing. Don't even get me started on the lack of character development either. We have dopey guy, nicer guy, skanky girl, nicer girl, and two straight-laced cops. Next.

I have certain admiration for the film in regards that Smith seems like a capable directer, the writing isn't horrendously incompetent, and some of the atmosphere (when we can see it) is chilling and effective. However, Munger Road, unfortunately, could be a sour movie-going experience thanks to three words that conclude the film. I'll leave you with that...

Starring: Bruce Davison, Randall Batinkoff, Trevor Morgan, Brooke Peoples, Hallock Beals, Lauren Storm, and Art Fox. Directed by: Nicholas Smith.

I understand that a good horror movie often leaves one with questions at the end, but this movie felt incomplete. The ending is abrupt and without direction, leaving so many unanswered questions that the audience just sat there and asked, "Is that it?". Setting up for a sequel is understandable but I think the viewer needs more of a hook...(Although I'll probably go see Munger 2.) The story, though unoriginal, does have a fair amount of suspense. There are several scenes that give a good jolt but nothing ever gets resolved. I can't recommend this film. As a resident of St Charles now and a person that drives past that location every day, I wanted to love this movie. There were so many directions this could have gone and it chose none. That's a shame.

On the eve of the annual Scarecrow Festival, two St. Charles police officers (Randall Batinkoff and Bruce Davison) search for a return killer the same night four teenagers go missing on Munger Road.

Let me sum up everything good about this film in two words: Bruce Davison. The man is a legend, from "Willard" on down. That he has had to appear in low budget horror films to pay the rent (or at least to keep building a resume) is a sad, sad thing. (And not unique to Bruce, of course -- Robert Englund, Jeffrey Combs, and everyone else is doing it...)

The part with the kids? Who cares? A bunch of dumb kids, no better than you will find in every other horror film. But the cops, they actually had a bit of an interesting plot going on...

The first part of this movie is very good. The story line is excellent, it holds you attention with the suspense and terror exspected of a horror movie. All the characters have a story and all are performing up to or beyound pare. The first part is great!

Why wouldnt anyone complete such a great start. They need to complete the movie series and do Munger Rd. 2?

This is a crime the movie Munger Road 2 would have been a great completion. The movie studio's should never be allowed to just end a movie series like this one they should be made to complete any movies that are a series. This is unfair to the watchers that support movies like these.

This movie had great potential!

No ending, no good reveiw.

This film is loosely inspired by a urban legend that haunts many a towns throughout the US. The legend of Munger Road is that a bus filled with school kids got hit by a train after stopping on the train tracks. Many teens now place baby powder on the bumper to see if you get ghostly hand prints that indicate spirits were trying to push you off of the railroad tracks, as a means to protect you from the same fate. This film incidentally is based & located in ST. CHARLES, Ill. where some of these legends are located and still practiced today. I'd also like to mention that the film itself also has another side story, so in all this is two films kinda merged into one.

The film starts with Trevor Morgan (who plays Corey LaFayve), and the lovely Brooke Peoples (as Joe Risk). The two teens are seen in a coffee shop waiting on their friends for a possible double date with Hallock Beals (who plays Scott Claussen) and his girlfriend Rachael Donahue (played by Lauren Storm). Subsequently, the date doesn't go as planned as they decided to take the girls "Ghost Hunting" on "MUNGER ROAD" (hence the name of the movie) to test out the local legend on the train tracks. The "ghost hunting date" doesn't pan out as expected. Although, there is one scene where the video is pitch black and it makes YOU as the audience use your imagination which I thought was quite brilliant. The film itself has quite a slow burn to it until about the 48 minute mark, that being said it DOES have a nice steady edge of keeping your attention to see what happens next. There are also quite a few creepy moment & some nice scares that kind of catch you off guard in the beginning & near the end as well.

Throughout the beginning we are getting to know the younger cast of characters, then we meet our local police officers. Film star veterans Bruce Davison (X-MEN, Willard, & Apt Pupil) as Chief Kirkhoven as well as Randall Batinkoff (For Keeps?, Kickass, & X-men: First Class) who plays Deputy Hendricks. As we are introduced to them, we find out about a local killer who breaks out of a prison and is on the loose. The Kids on Munger Road are unknown to this fact, as the two police officers begin to scramble to find this man. The escapee several years ago was responsible for the various disappearances of several teens & children in the area (also another local Urban Legend which is implemented into the story, I do believe).

As the facts begin to fall into place, the teens begin to disappear from someone or something in the night...

I really enjoyed the film, as it isn't a big budget flick but it does have the feel of it even though it's a INDIE FILM. This film relies less on gore & nudity and more so on the visuals, cinematography, artistic style & storytelling to take you along on this thriller. You can tell that the writer, director, and cast & crew put there heart and soul into this film. You can also see that they borrowed from some of the horror greats, with slight homages inserted into the story & the backdrop scenes.

The cast of younger unknowns do a great job of keeping the tension, humor, & drama on a even level of authenticity takes to a nice & solid script. Bruce Davison as always brings his A game & Randall Batinkoff plays well off of Davison as a deputy who slowly sees his strengths and conquers his weakness by the films end.

My ONLY complaint is that the film ends exactly like another Independent film I own that starts slow & gets a great finale near the end then cuts you short with a "TO BE CONTINUED..." prior to the end credits. Keeping in mind, that there is a possible follow up sequel in mind for this film, I do believe it worth a watch. I definitely am glad I have this in my collection, it has replay value considering the abrupt ending.

Haven't even watched but it's annoying that they used cops from St Charles and not cops from West Chicago or Bartlett where the road is actually located://

"Munger Road" doesn't break much new ground, but it covers the old ground nicely. Two St. Charles students (Trevor Morgan and Hallock Beals) get a video camera so they can go out with their dates (Brooke Peoples and Lauren Storm), to the tracks on Munger Road to check for supernatural activity. The car engine mysteriously dies and the four kids are marooned in the middle of nowhere.

From John Carpenter's "Halloween," director/writer Nick Smith appropriates the escaped serial killer plot, plus pays homage to the opening-scene tracking shot by having a cop investigate a dark house through a point-of-view camera.

Smith also lifts the swinging ceiling lamp effect from Hitchcock's "Psycho" and briefly the making-a-documentary premise from "The Blair Witch Project" which it stole from "Cannibal Holocaust."

So, don't go to see "Munger Road" for originality.

Go to witness how Smith and his young conspirators (including Polish composer Wojciech Golczewski with his edgy, alarming score) transform the sleepy little community of St. Charles into the scariest Illinois town since Michael Myers roamed fictional Haddonfield.

The road to mongoloid starts with 3 stars.

• minus 1 star for lacking hot scenes for the chicks,
• minus 1 star for having no ending,
• the last star will be removed in the sequel if it ever happens, to be continued.