MovieChat Forums > Southbound (2016) Discussion > This did absolutely nothing for me

This did absolutely nothing for me

posted 9 years ago by moviewizguy
9 replies | jump to latest

I'm a fan of anthology films, especially VHS's 1 and 2, but I'm surprised by the positive reception this film is getting. IMO, it's unfocused, confusing, and filled with forgettable characters that don't leave any impression. Literally all the segments were mediocre. Nothing stood out. The entire hospital sequence (the most praised segment in the film) was laughable (that poor girl) with the three people talking to the guy over the phone. It felt so ridiculous, over-the-top, and overwritten. I appreciate the film focusing on the theme of guilt but none of the directors did anything interesting or effective with it. Just my two cents.

[–] HowieRS 9 years ago

I completely agree, though I would also direct many of those criticisms towards the VHS films. I really like this genre though, hope it attracts more talent and we can see some truly good films in the near future.

[–] StaunchWoman 9 years ago

While I didn't find it phenomenal, the segues were great and I found the location very eerie and mysterious. Best explored in the segment where the brother finds his sister after 13 years. The general ambiguity lends a lot to the creepy tone.

[–] EverydayOwl 9 years ago

I liked it, but a better director--not a Hollywood one though--could have probably put it all together a little better.

[–] MozartsMuse 9 years ago

Just watched this. I expected it to be so much better, based on all the positive reviews it's gotten. I agree with you... None of the segments stood out, and they were all mediocre.

A Christmas Horror Story and Tales of Halloween were superior and way more entertaining than Southbound.

Also, what is with all these recent anthology movies using a radio DJ to tie the stories together?

Welcome to Fright Night....for real. 

[–] hell-cat-1 9 years ago

I completely agree with you. I also found that there was far too much needless gore and virtually no character development whatsoever. It was also predictable, which I'm sure the movie wasn't going for. Towards the end, I found myself very bored and just didn't care who was getting killed. Lost potential.

[–] utahman1971 9 years ago

I guess your a gore hater. I love gore and if they did what you say to take it out then I would hate it. I loved the way it was and was entertaining and too many people just make a big deal over gore. It is not even the real thing and you are complaining about it?

I am a gore watching freak!!!

If it don't have it, it isn't worth the watch.

[–] christina_death 9 years ago

Yes. Unfocused, confusing and filled with forgettable characters. Exactly. I was waiting for something to tightly pull it all together in the end, but that never came. Also agree on the hospital sequence. I was bored and annoyed. It went on and on and oooon. I just thought "stop messing with that poor girl. Are you stupid?" Even in the throes of panic, you could understand that you're doing nothing to help her. Because everything he was doing to try to "help her" was so dumb, there was no surprise when the people on the phone started laughing. It was obvious they weren't helping this idiot. It was run of the mill gore which...ok. But there's nothing to praise here. No big surprise. It all went nowhere and was just meh.

[–] pascals_wager 9 years ago

totally agreed. it's a terrible film. not even comparable to vhs. i'd give it a 2/10.

[–] lordofthelake 9 years ago

I can see what you're saying, but I enjoyed the film. It was fun.