Munger Road (2011)

This film is loosely inspired by a urban legend that haunts many a towns throughout the US. The legend of Munger Road is that a bus filled with school kids got hit by a train after stopping on the train tracks. Many teens now place baby powder on the bumper to see if you get ghostly hand prints that indicate spirits were trying to push you off of the railroad tracks, as a means to protect you from the same fate. This film incidentally is based & located in ST. CHARLES, Ill. where some of these legends are located and still practiced today. I'd also like to mention that the film itself also has another side story, so in all this is two films kinda merged into one. The film starts with Trevor Morgan (who plays Corey LaFayve), and the lovely Brooke Peoples (as Joe Risk). The two teens are seen in a coffee shop waiting on their friends for a possible double date with Hallock Beals (who plays Scott Claussen) and his girlfriend Rachael Donahue (played by Lauren Storm). Subsequently, the date doesn't go as planned as they decided to take the girls "Ghost Hunting" on "MUNGER ROAD" (hence the name of the movie) to test out the local legend on the train tracks. The "ghost hunting date" doesn't pan out as expected. Although, there is one scene where the video is pitch black and it makes YOU as the audience use your imagination which I thought was quite brilliant. The film itself has quite a slow burn to it until about the 48 minute mark, that being said it DOES have a nice steady edge of keeping your attention to see what happens next. There are also quite a few creepy moment & some nice scares that kind of catch you off guard in the beginning & near the end as well.Throughout the beginning we are getting to know the younger cast of characters, then we meet our local police officers. Film star veterans Bruce Davison (X-MEN, Willard, & Apt Pupil) as Chief Kirkhoven as well as Randall Batinkoff (For Keeps?, Kickass, & X-men: First Class) who plays Deputy Hendricks. As we are introduced to them, we find out about a local killer who breaks out of a prison and is on the loose. The Kids on Munger Road are unknown to this fact, as the two police officers begin to scramble to find this man. The escapee several years ago was responsible for the various disappearances of several teens & children in the area (also another local Urban Legend which is implemented into the story, I do believe).As the facts begin to fall into place, the teens begin to disappear from someone or something in the night...I really enjoyed the film, as it isn't a big budget flick but it does have the feel of it even though it's a INDIE FILM. This film relies less on gore & nudity and more so on the visuals, cinematography, artistic style & storytelling to take you along on this thriller. You can tell that the writer, director, and cast & crew put there heart and soul into this film. You can also see that they borrowed from some of the horror greats, with slight homages inserted into the story & the backdrop scenes. The cast of younger unknowns do a great job of keeping the tension, humor, & drama on a even level of authenticity takes to a nice & solid script. Bruce Davison as always brings his A game & Randall Batinkoff plays well off of Davison as a deputy who slowly sees his strengths and conquers his weakness by the films end.My ONLY complaint is that the film ends exactly like another Independent film I own that starts slow & gets a great finale near the end then cuts you short with a "TO BE CONTINUED..." prior to the end credits. Keeping in mind, that there is a possible follow up sequel in mind for this film, I do believe it worth a watch. I definitely am glad I have this in my collection, it has replay value considering the abrupt ending.

Set in one of the best towns in the US to raise a family, Saint Charles IL, this movie does a fabulous job showing off the best parts of the community and keeping you on the edge of your seat. A very creative plot, good acting and nice photography are the main elements that characterize this film. You have to take the family or your bodies with to see it! Set in one of the best towns in the US to raise a family, Saint Charles IL, this movie does a fabulous job showing off the best parts of the community and keeping you on the edge of your seat. A very creative plot, good acting and nice photography are the main elements that characterize this film. You have to take the family or your bodies with to see it!

A truly inspired movie, Munger Road relied on the intricate storyline to speak for itself. The scariness lied in the realization that this could happen to any group of teenagers. It was extremely well executed, proving that it wasn't just another Hollywood film that focused on extravagant scenes to showcase how much money was put into it. From witty banter in the car to the affable chemistry between Bruce Davidson and Randall Batinkoff, Nick Smith hit the nail on the head. I loved leaving the theater still thinking about what I had just witnessed and letting my imagination take over. A must see classic. I can't wait for the sequel!

"Munger Road" doesn't break much new ground, but it covers the old ground nicely. Two St. Charles students (Trevor Morgan and Hallock Beals) get a video camera so they can go out with their dates (Brooke Peoples and Lauren Storm), to the tracks on Munger Road to check for supernatural activity. The car engine mysteriously dies and the four kids are marooned in the middle of nowhere.From John Carpenter's "Halloween," director/writer Nick Smith appropriates the escaped serial killer plot, plus pays homage to the opening-scene tracking shot by having a cop investigate a dark house through a point-of-view camera.Smith also lifts the swinging ceiling lamp effect from Hitchcock's "Psycho" and briefly the making-a-documentary premise from "The Blair Witch Project" which it stole from "Cannibal Holocaust."So, don't go to see "Munger Road" for originality.Go to witness how Smith and his young conspirators (including Polish composer Wojciech Golczewski with his edgy, alarming score) transform the sleepy little community of St. Charles into the scariest Illinois town since Michael Myers roamed fictional Haddonfield.