A Perfect Getaway

This suspense thriller begins with a reasonable premise but soon disintegrates into a preposterous and brutal predator/prey tale. Cliff and Cydney (Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich) are honeymooners looking for adventure on an island in Hawaii known for its lush greenery, stunning waterfalls, and pristine beaches. Loaded with camping supplies, they embark on a five-mile hike through the rainforest, following a narrow path to a strip of remote beach that's accessible only on foot or by kayak. En route, they're accosted by two hitchhikers, hostile Kale (Chris Hemsworth) and his flaky gal-pal Cleo (Marley Shelton), and then meet up with Nick (Timothy Olyphant), an Iraq War vet suffering from testosterone overload and, later, his companion, Gina (Kiele Sanchez). Complications ensue when they discover that a pair of homicidal maniacs who recently stalked, murdered, and dismembered honeymooners on Oahu are on the loose and believed to be in the vicinity. Tension builds as the three couples harbor sinister suspicions about one another and it becomes clear that their survival is at stake. Because Cliff has revealed that he's a Hollywood screenwriter, Nick relentlessly gives him tips on building suspense, like “introducing red snappers”(meaning—of course—”red herrings”), i.e., characters introduced to throw people off. That's a device writer-director David Twohy (The Chronicles of Riddick, Pitch Black) seems to relish, dishing out enough red herrings to stock a Scandinavian smorgasbord. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include both the theatrical version and the unrated version of the film, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is an alternate original scripted ending (3 min.) and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a small extras package for a disappointing film.] (S. Granger)