A Perfect Getaway
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A Perfect Getaway
Plot
Honeymooning newlyweds Cliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich) are hiking an 11-mile trail in Hawaii when they cross paths will ex-military man Nick (Timothy Olyphant), who earns their trust by helping them navigate a particularly treacherous mountain cliff. A few yards later, the trio runs into a group of girls whose parents are begging them to return home following reports that a honeymooning couple has been murdered on one of the other islands. The suspects in the killings are a young white couple, and when Cliff and Cydney meet Nick's frees-spirited girlfriend, Gina (Kiele Sanchez), tensions start to rise. The further the foursome walks together, the more delicate the balance of trust and suspicion becomes. ~ Jason Buchanan, RoviReview
Paradise has rarely looked as gorgeously ominous as it does in A Perfect Getaway, director David Twohy's return to the small-scale thriller following the bloated would-be sci-fi epic The Chronicles of Riddick. Anyone who has followed Twohy's career over the years knows that he's at his best when dealing with tense situations in an intimate environment, and with the story of real-life murdered honeymooners Ben and Catherine Mullany still in the news thanks to a surprising controversy, the plausibility of such a heinous crime lends the film an extra punch of morbid realism. But filmmakers will be filmmakers, and while Twohy nearly deep-sixes the whole endeavor by straining for cleverness, A Perfect Getaway somehow pulls back from the brink to deliver some solid scenic thrills.Honeymooning newlyweds Cliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich) are hiking an 11-mile trail in Hawaii when they cross paths with ex-military man Nick (Timothy Olyphant), who earns their trust by helping the couple navigate a particularly treacherous mountain cliff. A few yards later, the trio runs into a group of girls whose parents are begging them to return home following reports that a honeymooning couple has been murdered on one of the other islands. The suspects in the killings are a young white couple, and when Cliff and Cydney meet Nick's free-spirited girlfriend, Gina (Kiele Sanchez), tensions start to rise. Meanwhile, yet another vacationing couple (Chris Hemsworth and Marley Shelton) appears to be shadowing the foursome as they forge their way ever deeper down the secluded path.
If the setup for A Perfect Getaway seems to have been cribbed from a Suspense 101 writing course, that's because as a writer, Twohy seems to know that simplicity is the key to effectively drawing an audience in -- it worked in Pitch Black and Below (which he co-wrote with Darren Aronofsky and Lucas Sussman), and it works here, too. Twohy wastes precious little time in creating tension, and whether it's an unsettling encounter with a pair of suspicious hitchhikers or a sidelong glance from a resort hand, we're already on edge by the time we discover that vicious slayings do occur even in Shangri-la.
As the story begins to unfold, clues are dropped and red herrings abound, offering keen-eyed viewers a fun opportunity to flex their grey matter. If it's a little too self-aware in its explicit references to the art of screenwriting, it's all part of the game, and helps us to get a better idea of the characters as well; Zahn and Jovovich play the roles of the slightly naïve couple to perfection, while Olyphant and Sanchez gain a few nervous laughs as the couple that isn't afraid to slaughter a goat for sustenance while camping out. Alas, A Perfect Getaway isn't as much a survival story as it is a carefully crafted suspense film, and in taking a five-minute detour to deliver a twist that would have benefited greatly from a less-is-more approach, Twohy effectively diffuses all tension in a vain attempt to assert his shrewd skills as a storyteller. Fortunately the action picks up again quickly enough after the pause, leaving us feeling more thrilled than cheated thanks to a unique character transformation and a particularly gruesome final confrontation. To release a thriller with the word "Perfect" in the title is a risky move -- particularly if the final product is less than stellar -- and while A Perfect Getaway may not be as flawless as its title implies, it does manage to maintain an effective air of tension throughout its compact running time. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Cast
- Timothy Olyphant - Nick
- Steve Zahn - Cliff
- Milla Jovovich - Cydney
- Kiele Sanchez - Gina
- Marley Shelton - Cleo
Credit
Zina Torres - Art Director, Anne McCarthy - Casting, Freddy Luis - Casting, Jay Scully - Casting, Geoffrey Taylor - Co-producer, Camille Brown - Co-producer, Ken Halsband - Co-producer, Laura Goldsmith - Costume Designer, David N. Twohy - Director, Tracy Adams - Editor, John Davis - Executive Producer, Robert Bernacchi - Executive Producer, Bill Block - Executive Producer, Kimberly Fox - Executive Producer, Scott Fischer - Executive Producer, Mark Fischer - Executive Producer, Boris Elkis - Composer (Music Score), Joseph C. Nemec III - Production Designer, Mark Plummer - Cinematographer, Mark Canton - Producer, Tucker Tooley - Producer, Robbie Brenner - Producer, Ryan Kavanaugh - Producer, David N. Twohy - Screenwriter, Lisa Alkofer - Set Decorator| A Perfect Gentleman (1928 Film), A Perfect Fit (2005 Film) | |
| A Perfect Hero (1991 Film), A Perfect Lady (1918 Film) |
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A Perfect Getaway
| A Perfect Getaway | |
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 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | David Twohy |
| Produced by | Ryan Kavanaugh Mark Canton Tucker Tooley Robbie Brenner |
| Written by | David Twohy |
| Starring | Timothy Olyphant Milla Jovovich Kiele Sanchez Steve Zahn Marley Shelton Chris Hemsworth |
| Music by | Boris Elkis |
| Cinematography | Mark Plummer |
| Editing by | Tracy Adams and Oliver Littlewood as co-editer |
| Studio | Relativity Media |
| Distributed by | Rogue Pictures |
| Release date(s) | August 7, 2009 |
| Running time | Theatrical cut: 97 minutes Unrated cut: 107 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $14 million[1] |
| Box office | $22,852,638[1] |
A Perfect Getaway is a 2009 American psychological thriller film written and directed by David Twohy, and stars Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez and Steve Zahn. The film was shot in Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and was released on August 7, 2009 in the United States, and on August 12 in the United Kingdom. The film received mixed to positive critical reaction[2] and was a minor financial success.
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Contents
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Plot
A young mild-mannered American couple, Cliff (Zahn) and Cydney (Jovovich) are celebrating their honeymoon by hiking to a remote beach in Hawaii. The couple comes across Nick (Olyphant) a solo hiker, who saves Cydney's life when she slips crossing a narrow ledge. The trio approach a group of frightened female hikers discussing a double murder in Honolulu of another newlywed couple on the island, with the victims having their teeth pulled out and fingertips removed, Cydney and Cliff discuss whether they should turn back. The couple decide to continue hiking with Nick, who claims to be an Iraq War veteran and subsequently meet up with his girlfriend, Gina (Sanchez).
Cliff suspects that the couple of hitchhikers that he and Cydney had earlier turned down for a ride Cleo (Shelton) and Kale (Hemsworth) and run into on the trail might be dangerous. He checks their bags after discovering that his and Cydney's permits are gone. Then, he, Cydney, Nick and Gina leave together, but Cliff suspects that Kale and Cleo are following them. Nick and Cliff split up to search for Kale and Cleo. Cliff runs into a guide he and Cydney had met before setting off on the hike, who gives him the permits they had left behind. He and Nick return to the campsite, with Nick bringing a goat he had killed. Gina proceeds to expertly gut and butcher the goat, saying she learned how by working in the meat department of a grocery store.
The following day, Kale and Cleo are arrested by the police. A container full of pulled teeth is found in their bag. Cliff, Cydney, Nick and Gina head to the beach, where Nick and Cliff decide to go see a marine cave via kayaks.
As Gina idly looks through the photos on Cydney and Cliff's video camera, she is horrified to realize that they are not who they say they are. Gina sets off after Nick and Cliff with Cydney chasing after Gina.
Flashbacks then reveal that Cliff (who turns out to be Rocky) and Cydney are a drug addicted sociopath couple who murdered the newlyweds in Honolulu. They kill people and take their identities in order to, as Rocky (the most psychotic and deluded) puts it, live a hundred different lives and achieve a kind of immortality. It is also revealed that "Cliff" planted the teeth in Kale and Cleo's bag to frame them.
In the cave, Rocky shoots Nick just as Gina arrives, having run along the cliffs. Rocky shoots at her, but misses. Cydney sneaks up on Gina and attacks her. Gina is stabbed in the leg but manages to push Cydney off the ledge into the water.
Gina fortuitously receives a call on her cell phone from a phone company representative. She begs him to call the police. She then spots Cydney below in the kayak just as Rocky pops up over the cliff ledge to grab her feet. Gina stabs him in the hand with Cydney's knife and flees.
While Rocky chases her and Cydney kayaks ashore to intercept the police, Nick, saved by the titanium plate in his head, wakes up. Gina, in turn, runs into a group of men searching for their stolen kayaks, who tell her she is safe now. Rocky tries to convince the men that Gina is whacked out on drugs, but when one of them, who happens to be an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), notices his enlarged pupils, he ends up killing all of them as Gina runs toward the beach. At this point, Nick arrives and fights with Rocky, eventually getting the upper hand. At that point, the police arrive by helicopter with a rifle aimed at Nick. They ask for confirmation from Cydney, accompanying them in the helicopter, that Nick is the killer, and she pauses. Gina pulls Nick away from Rocky just in time to save him from the police sharpshooter. Cydney then tells the police that Rocky is the killer. Rocky is shot dead as he reaches for his gun.
Later, a medical helicopter comes and takes Nick and Gina. Nick proposes to her on the helicopter and admits that he had bought the ring on eBay. She happily accepts and they agree: "No honeymoon."
Cast
- Steve Zahn as Cliff/Rocky
- Timothy Olyphant as Nick
- Milla Jovovich as Cydney
- Kiele Sanchez as Gina
- Marley Shelton as Cleo
- Chris Hemsworth as Kale
- Anthony Ruivivar as Chronic
- Dale Dickey as Earth Momma
- Peter "Navy" Tuiasosopo as Supply Guy
- Wendy Braun as Debbie Mason
Soundtrack
- Hey, Hey, Hey — Tracy Adams
- Paradise — RooHub
- Need Your Love — Aswad
- Boom Chic Boom Chic — Tracy Adams
- Red Dress Baby Doll — Tracy Adams
- Ghetto Chronic — Tracy Adams
- The Wretched — Nine Inch Nails
- I'm Yours — Jason Mraz
Reception
The film has achieved mixed to positive reviews from critics. Based on an average of 22 reviews, Metacritic gave the film 63 out of 100.[3] A Perfect Getaway also averages 63% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 123 reviews.
The New York Times referred to the film as a "genuinely satisfying cheap thrill".[4] More mixed reviews include the Times Online, which gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, adding that it is a "smart” thriller but is a "little too tricky for its own good".[5] Additionally, The Guardian only rated the film 60% saying that the film is a "flawed but entertaining thriller".[6] Michael Phillips gives the film 2 1/2 stars (out of four) stating that 'A Perfect Getaway' "has the fortitude to venture off the beaten path of formula."[1]
The film grossed $5,948,555 in its opening weekend within America.[7] Worldwide, its grossing stands at $22,852,638. Its first week in the United Kingdom saw the film make £418,703 and reach number 10 at the UK box office.
Timothy Olyphant was the first runner-up for Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Release
The film was released in the United States on 7 August 2009. The unrated director's cut DVD and Blu-ray were released on 29 December 2009.[8]
References
- ^ a b "A Perfect Getaway". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=perfectgetaway.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
- ^ "A Perfect Getaway (2009)". Rotten Tomatoes. http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_perfect_getaway/. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "Perfect Getaway, A". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/perfectgetaway. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (2009-08-07). "A Perfect Getaway (2009)". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/movies/07perfect.html. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ Young, Toby (2009-08-14). "The Perfect Getaway". Times Online. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article6794854.ece. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (2009-08-14). "A Perfect Getaway". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/14/a-perfect-getaway-review. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ "A Perfect Getaway". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=perfectgetaway.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Uncle Creepy (2009-10-28). "A Perfect Getaway Coming Home". Dread Central. http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34250/a-perfect-getaway-coming-home.
External links
- A Perfect Getaway at the Internet Movie Database
- A Perfect Getaway at Rotten Tomatoes
- Interview with composer Boris Elkis
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