Dead End (2003 film)
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| Dead End | |
|---|---|
 Dead End film poster |
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| Directed by | Jean-Baptiste Andrea Fabrice Canepa |
| Produced by | James Huth |
| Written by | Jean-Baptiste Andrea Fabrice Canepa |
| Starring | Ray Wise Mick Cain Alexandra Holden |
| Distributed by | Lions Gate Films |
| Release date(s) | 12 December 2003 (UK) |
| Running time | 85 min. |
| Country | France USA |
| Language | English |
| Official website | |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Dead End is a 2003 horror film directed by Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa.
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[edit] Plot
On the Christmas Eve, Frank Harrington (played by Ray Wise) is driving with his family, composed of his wife Laura (Lin Shaye), his son Richard (Mick Cain) and his daughter Marion (Alexandra Holden) and her boyfriend Brad (Billy Asher), to have the Christmas dinner at the home of Frank's mother-in-law. Frank decides to drive through an unknown shortcut using a secondary road, where horrific events follow his family.
They encounter a mysterious woman in white (Amber Smith) wandering through the forest with her baby, leaving death in her wake. Also, a terrifying black car - its driver invisible - carries the victims into the heart of the night. Moreover, every road sign points to a destination they never reach. The sign reads "Marcott", and the dad presumes this is a naval base, and that is why it is on this road, and not on the map.
The family succumbs to panic and madness, coupled by deeply buried secrets bursting to the surface. For them, Christmas has turned into a living hell.
The ending is unclear, as the last survivor, Marion, awakes in hospital and a doctor with the surname "Marcott" is there. It is later revealed that there is a man with the same black car that carried everyone off into the night, who says he's the one who found Marion and called it in. When Marcott's car fails to start, he asks her, 'do you want a lift?' and Marcott replies 'Sure. Nice car.'. after which, the man says 'Thanks, I'm a collector'.
The credits then roll and then there is a cutscene, involving two roadsweepers cleaning up after the supposedly violent car crash and one picks up a note previously written by the dad, and this wipes out the possibility that it was all a dream...
[edit] Theory
Some evidence suggests that the whole story may have been a state of Purgatory in which the family are being punished for their wrong doings (ie. Frank falling asleep at the wheel and killing the mother and child in the other car). The reason that the form of their executioner is the woman in the white dress. This explains why Marion is the only survivor as she never died in the car crash. Another theory is that the family was murdered, and their bodies planted to look like they had died in a car accident. The woman in white would have killed Marion, but spared her, probably because she was pregnant.
[edit] Awards and Nominations
- 2004 - Fantasporto - International Fantasy Film Award - Nominee Only
- 2004 - Peñíscola Comedy Film Festival - Best Actress (Lin Shaye) - Winner
- 2004 - Peñíscola Comedy Film Festival - Best First Work - Winner
- 2003 - Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film - Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver - Winner
- 2003 - Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film - Pegasus Audience Award - Winner
- 2003 - Cinénygma - Luxembourg International Film Festival - Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Gold - Nominated only
- 2003 - Doaui First Film Festival - Youth Jury Award - Winner
- 2003 - Fant-Asia Film Festival - Jury Prize - Winner
- 2003 - San Sebastián Horror and Fantasy Film Festival - Audience Award - Winner
