Scenic Route (Movie Review)

Scenic Route is a 2013 psychological thriller directed by Michael and Kevin Goetz. The movie starts out with two best-friends, Mitchell (Josh Duhamel) and Carter (Dan Fogler) on a scenic road trip. The story starts out simple enough with two friends trying to bond that quickly turns deadly.

**SPOILER ALERT**

When the movie starts, we have Carter and Mitchell driving a beat-up old truck down the empty desert roads. There is nothing or no one in sight for miles and that is just what Carter wanted. He decided to take the scenic route so he could have some one-on-one time with his best friend who he feels has strayed from their childhood dreams. Mitchell appears to have it all from his boyish good-looks, a beautiful wife and child, a lavish dream home and even a successful career. However, Carter may live out of his truck and be a failing writer, he still thinks that Mitchell has just gone with the masses and gave up everything that ever meant anything to him which included his love of music.

When the truck suddenly dies and is simply fixed by a passer-by, Carter admits to messing with the electrical of the vehicle so they could stop and talk awhile. Carter was convinced that this would allow him to get through to Mitchell about everything he is doing wrong in his life. However, once Mitchell finds out Carter sabotaged the truck, it only infuriates him even more. When Carter stops the vehicle again during a heated argument, the car really does tear up and all hell breaks loose.

Mitchell soon admits that most of what Carter was saying was right about him and that is how he knows he should keep trying as a writer. Carter's ability to read people was a great help to his writing but his tragic endings for his stories were just too much for Mitchell. However, the two friends don't realize it yet, but they are on the road to their own tragic demise. Carter and Mitchell finally talk about some of Mitchell's life which includes that after four years of marriage and a child that he was no longer physically attracted to his wife. He then continues on about having an affair on one of his business trips. Basically, Mitchell can't stand to look at his wife's body full of stretch marks and twenty pounds heavier alongside the stress of parenting to get an erection anymore. Mitchell had it all but deep inside he really just wanted to wear a Mohawk and play guitar just like Carter thought.

Before long, Carter and Mitchell get into another heated argument where they beat the hell out of each other until Carter is unconscious. Mitchell freaks out and thinks Carter is dead and begins to dig a grave for him. Of course, when Carter awakes and is able to sit up to see himself laying next to a freshly dug grave, he starts to loose it a little. Especially when the last thing he said to Mitchell was that he was going to tell his wife about the affair and now he thinks he is just trying to kill him off so he doesn't tell.

Before long, these two best-friends had become enemies, and now their lives dangle in the balance of the extreme conditions of the desert. In the end, the audience is made to believe the duo walked and found a run-down place with water where their broken cell phone worked. We are then gave flashes of a life where Carter moves in with Mitchell to start his book and Mitchell quits his job to pursue music. For a brief moment, you believe that they escaped death and everything worked out perfectly for them. However, as it flashes back to the desert, Mitchell starts to believe everything is too good to be true and they are both lying in the hole on the verge of death. You are then left with the feeling of did these guys make it or did they die out in the desert over their petty arguments?

In the end, Scenic Route is a great film with fantastic acting, a touching storyline and beautiful visuals. If you have ever felt like you are taking your waking moments for granted and putting your dreams on hold, then check out Scenic Route today for a little perspective. Scenic Route is now available to watch on Netflix and is worth every minute.

Score: 9 out of 10
Movie Information
Writer/Director: Kevin and Michael Goetz
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Starring: Josh Duhamel, Dan Fogler, Miracle Laurie, and Christie Burson