This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
DOG BYTES


A locked sauna turns up the heat on these three in 247°F. 247


Destination Fields in a Dark Mirror


247°F


2011, Anchor Bay, 87m 11s, $24.98, DVD By Shane M. Dallmann


Remember FROZEN? Call this one “Broiled.” The feature debut of directors Levan Bakhia and Bega Jguburia, 247°F con- tinues the trend of minimalist survival thrillers with a cast popu- lated almost entirely with players from recent horror remakes. Three years after the trau-


matic death of her fiancé, Jenna (Scout Taylor-Compton) is coaxed out of her shell by her friend Renee (Christine Ulloa): the plan is for Jenna to join her for a weekend of revels at an unspeci- fied “pagan festival” in the com- pany of Renee’s boyfriend Michael (Michael Copon of NIGHT OF THE DEMONS redux) and Ian (Travis Van Winkle of the FRIDAY THE 13TH reboot), who hopes to get to know Jenna bet- ter. As a bonus, comfortable lodgings will be provided by


4


Michael’s friend Wade (Tyler Mane, Michael Myers to Taylor- Compton’s Laurie in Rob Zombie’s Halloween films), who gener- ously supplies booze, drugs and a fully-appointed Nordic sauna. But when a petulant, alcohol- soaked Michael storms out of the hotbox in a huff, the remaining celebrants realize they are trapped inside as the tempera- ture rises, and their every attempt to extricate themselves from their situation only makes things worse.


The story (“based on true events” we’re told, concocted by director Bakhia and Bega Oniani) is necessarily formulaic, but screenwriter Lloyd S. Wagner manages to wring suspense from the proceedings in two distinct ways: the increasingly hellish sauna trap is bad enough, but the viewer is also given legitimate cause to wonder whether the pre- dicament was actually caused by Michael’s drunken carelessness, or if it’s part of a sinister agenda

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116