Shadow (2009)

Review by David Rupp



When a young soldier leaves for a mountain biking excursion he meets the girl of his dreams as well a group of violent locals who want to see them dead at any cost.

Directed by Federico Zampaglione
Written by Federico Zampaglione , Domenico Zampaglione
Starring: Jake Muxworthy, Karina Testa and Nuot Arquint

Netflix, the often times 'cold call' of movies. You find something vaguely interesting with ony a brief description and box art to guide you, then it becomes a russian roulette. As I pointed the remote to my head and pressed the play feature, Shadow exploded into my cerebral cortex with a force of an underdog.
At first you think you are in for a rip off of Hostel or some other such traveler in peril movie, but it jogs around, ebbs and flows in several different directions. Shadow returns to that Hostel feel but yanks you away just when you figure it out and delivers you to a wildly surprising ending.
Great atmosphere, acting and sets, this movie does not dissapoint in action and cringe factor. It actually has a story and leaves just enough for you to try to fill in what is happening. I particularly applaud the use and scope of the antagonist. Maybe not one for a collection but definitely one to watch.
8/10