Nightmare neighbours torment Hanks
DVD
Take a sprinkling of Stranger Things, add a pinch of The Descent and mix in parts of Lights Out and The Breakfast Club and you get Shortcut.
But while this low-budget British horror doesn’t win any prizes for originality, it makes for a watchable terror trip that, at just 80 minutes long, doesn’t outstay its welcome.
There’s not much to the plot other than the general peril-positioning trigger; five teenagers are hunted down by a mysterious creature when their bus driver decides to take a shortcut on a desolate road in the woods.
Little known director Alessio Liguori and writer Daniele Cosci keep things short, sharp and simple – and don’t shy away from the previous work that has clearly influenced their flick.
It’s fair to say there won’t be any awards for acting dished out to the cast of unknowns; the youngsters give it their all but their inexperience shows.
Only Zak Sutcliffe, as moody
Horror Channel, Friday at 2.35am
Unless you’re a night owl it’s worth recording this ace black comedy.
It was a real favourite of mine during my childhood and it holds up superbly.
This was back in an era when Tom Hanks was better known for his comedic roles and he is a riot as a suburbanite worried his new neighbours might be Satanic murderers.
Joe Dante (Gremlins) assembles an outstandingly funny ensemble including Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun and Corey Feldman.
The outcome is uncertain until the very end and there’s some wonderful moments of physical comedy.