Shuttle

Shuttle (2008)

Two girls returning from Mexican vacation, Mel and Jules, board the wrong shuttle bus when they leave the airport. They and the other passengers are terrorized by a driver that seems bent on taking them to the worst part of town and killing them. But is it that simple? As the night goes on the girls watch as the other passengers are killed off, while they are unharmed. Eventually it is revealed to the characters and the audience what is really behind the bus ride from hell. When it is revealed they might wish they had died that night on the bus.

I’m kind of torn on this movie. It is really different with an interesting story that I’ve not really seen other movies tackle. Without revealing anything the end of the movie takes a surprising turn that I didn’t see coming. I don’t want to call it a twist ending because in no way is the movie trying to fool the audience or throw something unexpected at us. The ending of Shuttle makes total sense and explains the motivations of the characters throughout the movie. But like I mentioned from the top I am a bit torn by this movie because while I really enjoyed the storyline the movie does seem a bit long. There is some tension built, but there are far too many times where they almost escape, then do it again, and then again. At some point it gets sort of ridiculous that they can’t just get away. Also when the ending is revealed and we realize what is going on the fact that the driver had a gun and let things go on as long as he did makes no sense. It is almost like the movie was trying to be too clever. One more thing that I wanted to mention that just didn’t make any sense was the inclusion of the indestructible villain in a movie that tries to be very realistic. They stab, shoot, and toss this guy around the shuttle bus without ever stopping him! So in the end there are reasons to like the story, while at the same time parts that really bugged me.

This isn’t an overly gory movie, but there are a couple of nasty scenes involving one character that are fun. But the best kill in the movie is bloodless, but very nasty and brutal in the way it was shot. I won’t spoil it here but I’m sure everyone will know what I’m talking about when they get to it. Beyond the effects I do want to mention that the camera work and lighting is excellent. Considering that the movie takes place mostly at night and on the shuttle bus it still manages to look pretty good and captures a few wonderful shots.

In the end I think that Shuttle is an average movie that is worth checking out at least once, but isn’t the sort of thing that most fans are going to go back and watch again. This makes it a perfect rental, but I can’t really recommend a purchase. For more information on this movie and their other great DVD releases check out the Magnet Releasing website at http://www.magnetreleasing.com/index.html

2 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer