Shortcut (2020)

From an editorial point of view, Shortcut, the Italian film directed by Alessio Liguori, fails to stand out in originality, despite having some interesting ideas.

The plot, which begins as a horror road movie, follows five young friends who meet on a bus and are forced to confront a psychopathic killer and a terrifying being.

However, the film's lack of depth and lightheartedness are aspects that are deemed necessary to reach such a specific audience as pre-teens.

The film deals with the theme of facing fears and the search for personal identity, values that are discovered by overcoming obstacles in life.

Fear becomes a fundamental element in the plot, for without it there can be no courage or virtue, and without facing one's fears, one cannot evolve as a person.

Alessio Liguori uses fear to develop the process of maturity of the protagonists, who are overwhelmed by their circumstances. In addition, the film deals superficially with the sexual awakening that is often linked to adolescence.

One of the highlights of Shortcut is the creature design, reminiscent of Peter Jackson's Nazgûl in Lord of the Rings.

The constant threat and visual representation of the creature, hooded like a Grim Reaper, convey a sense of intimidation and death.

However, one of the biggest drawbacks of the film is the characters.

Both their development and the performances of the cast are weakened by the script, which lacks a realistic psychological impact in the face of traumatic events.

The characters do not experience significant changes in their actions or perceptions despite the shocking events they witness.

Shortcut is a film that manages to entertain, but leaves much to be desired in aspects such as character construction, script and special effects.

Despite its limitations, if you can get past the superficiality of the characters, it can be a good time pass.