Heatstroke (2013)

The fact that it's called a Thriller is the first issue. It's not really a thrilling movie it never really got me on the edge of my seat which has multiple reasons. But first let's talk about the good stuff, for one Maisie Williams's acting is good for most of the time. Also a lot of the landscape shots looked really nice, the only problem is: that's it. This is pretty much the only good stuff you can find in Heatstroke. The story isn't really good, the characters are extremely stereotypical and the acting of most of the people is just really bad. Especially Svetlana Metkinas acting who played the new girlfriend of the father of Maisies character. I don't really know what else to say other than please spend your time doing something interesting rather than watching this movie

The kid Josie is a bad cliché of a rebellious bratty spoiled teenage girl. Her dad enables and encourages her behavior by refusing to be critical of her behavior. It is sickening to watch. This liberal attitude of not correcting bad behavior in children is epidemic in films today. It does help the writers develop conflict of course; the stupid decisions which are natural derivatives of liberal parenting philosophy assist the writers in putting characters in trouble. Being set in Africa, the scenery is great. I decided to watch this movie when I read it was set in Africa; that part of the movie does not disappoint. But there are scenes which detract from the film. Talley kills the man trying to kill her. Later she mutters to herself, I could have disabled him, I didn't have to kill him. And this is one of the men who murdered her lover. This is more idiotic liberalism, uncalled for. In point of fact, she was lucky she was not killed by the man, and she only killed him by accident during a struggle for the gun. But the writers felt the need to put some stupid leftist philosophy in the movie. In real life, if you try to avoid hurting your assailant very much you are likely to be overcome by him. Josie has a fit of anger and hits Talley in the back of the head with a rock because the water hole they found was bad. This is more gratuitous liberal behavior, playing the victim and blaming others for your bad luck.The teenage angst step mom dynamic is a major plot line in this film. You can tell how it is going to play out; they will get through some life changing harrowing experiences together and wind up bonding. If you can get past all that, it is not a bad film, but certainly not a great one

I watched this late at night and I was surprised I didn't fall asleep. But you know how sometimes a movie is so bad you just have to keep watching it? That would be this movie. Wooden acting by all the actors involved. Bad plot, with none of the relationships worth paying any attention to. Hyenas showing up at the oddest, yet most convenient, times. Hmmm, and they are in Africa and unprotected from the elements and the only animal that they ever run into is a hyena? OK, one snake. And I hate snakes, but that wasn't even frightening. Totally unreal. Did this even show in the theaters? I can't imagine it lasting more than a week before word got out how awful it was. Bah.

This movie could be used in filmclass on how not to make an effective dramathriller.The first third establishes Stephen Dorff as the main lead, at that point of the movie it's a familydrama.That changes though in the second third, where without spoiling anything "something happens" and Stephen Dorff "dissappears from the movie".Which of course is a surprise as the movie markets itself as a Stephen Dorff-movie on the cover and he's the dominating force in the first third as well as said.He's also sporting a gun in the cover to make you believe it's a actionthriller but in the movie he does not have a gun, he plays a very non-threatening hyena expert.The movie then pretty much out of the blue turns into a thriller with Dorff's girlfriend and daughter trying to escape badly written stereotypical "bad guys" played by Peter Stormare (who could play a role like this in his sleep) and 2 unknowns.The acting overall is uninspired and occasionally just plain bad, the kid does try and gets it right occasionally but she can't save this movie although I'm sure in another movie with the right director she can shine but it's just a lackluster production overall.3.5 out of 10 from me, there are hints that there are some talent involved, but overall it just fails to entertain and make you care about what's gonna happen.