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Turistas

Starring: Josh Duhamel, Melissa George
Director: John Stockwell
Genre: Horror
Year: 2006
Rating: 1 / 5

It takes a certain sort of film fan to truly appreciate horror movies, as they are not designed for mass appeal. Granted, they do appeal to a certain youthful demographic, which is why cheap horror films are churned out year after year. Personally, I can appreciate certain horror films, and I must admit that I have been pleasantly surprised by a film or two – most notably The Descent – in recent years. Unfortunately, Turistas is one of those formulaic horror efforts, and, unlike some of its more notable peers, it does stand not out from the pack. It features an uninteresting cast, few real shocks, and some ho-hum gore. Worse still, there is absolutely no payoff at the end – apologies to those for whom I am “ruining” the film – and we are left with a movie that merely fades to black.

Alex Trubituan (Josh Duhamel) is on vacation in Brazil, urged by his mother to accompany his kid sister Bea (Olivia Wilder) and her friend Amy on a South American getaway. On a long, bumpy ride through the scenic countryside, their tour bus, driven by a shady fellow playing slalom with pedestrians, causes their adventure to take an unexpected detour. Trying to avoid vehicular manslaughter, the driver sends the bus careening over the edge of the cliff, giving his horrified passengers just enough time to jump free. Rather than wait roadside for more than ten hours for another bus, Alex, Bea, Amy, and a motley crew, including bilingual Pru (Melissa George), head off for a nearby beach. Here they find the paradise they have been seeking, only nightfall begins to show them far darker things.

After a wild evening of partying – and some unwanted drugs slipped into their drinks – Alex and company find themselves stranded on the beach, without their belongings, their money, and their passports. A hike to a nearby town offers little in the way of assistance, but the tourists do stumble across some of their stolen belongings. Eventually, local Kiko leads them on a wearying hike into the jungle, promising them safety until transportation can be secured. What the tourists do not know, however, is that the events of the night before were carefully orchestrated by a man who has sinister plans in store for them. They also do not suspect – although one could argue that they should be a little wary after the night before – that their helpful guide Kiko is leading them to their own doom.

Not a whole lot is asked of Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas), Melissa George (Alias), et al, and not a whole lot is delivered. The cast members all look the part frolicking around the beach, baring their bikinis and (in Duhamel’s case) their abs, but there is not a lot of substance. However, character development is not why fans come to see horror films, at least not today’s horror films. They come to be shocked, to be surprised, and to ingest a healthy dose of blood and guts. Alas, there is little here of merit, with no shocks, a plot based on an oft-repeated urban legend, and no real chills. The few moments of true violence are slow and deliberate and evoke no real sense of dread or fear. Turistas is left as little more than a cautionary tale – not about travel in a foreign land, but about the need to more carefully screen horror rentals.

Cast:

Certification: Rated R for violence and nudity.
Running Time: 93 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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