Rest Stop

As some reviewers have said, the supernatural (ghost) elements could explain what some have called the "plot holes" in the story line and/or character motivation. Another possibility is that the events as we see them are part of a nightmare world or dream imagery in which actual events are "relived" in a surreal, disjointed sequence in which memories can be magnified and distorted. Both types of experience are not a precise replay of reality, though they have a basis in a reality. Another possibility is that the film-makers' goal is a depiction of their conception of what Purgatory could be like, in which the "sinner" relives portions of his/her life as an end to eventual redemption; a part of that redemption could include a reaching out (into the real world) in an effort to protect others from a similar fate by reaching out (or "across" time and space)to make contact with living people -- some of whom (as in the movie) can "see" and react, while others cannot.

How well this works in the eyes of an audience is another matter, of course. As with all movies, a willing suspension of disbelief is necessary for the degree of enjoyment one derives, and that is effected by (though not always satisfactorily controlled by)the acting, direction, special effects, etc. In the case of REST STOP (I haven't seen the sequel), the success of such an intention is for me only about 50/50, though I appreciate the multiple levels of possible meaning. Certainly it is not "the worst" movie of all time -- unless one has seen only one movie.

*minor spoilage*

It's sad to see the current state of horror movies...so many of them are unimaginitive, formulaic scribbles built around graphic images of people being cruelly tortured to death. Once upon a time, films like BLOOD FEAST and BLOODSUCKING FREAKS were at least groundbreaking and shocking, but today this stuff is all just business as usual(a troubling thought, really, but save that rant for another time).

Enter REST STOP...an ambitious indie movie in the above-mentioned category, though not an especially GOOD one, wherein a young runaway and her lover meet their grisly fate at a filthy roadside toilet. Along the way, we are introduced to characters who appear and disappear mysteriously, lending this film a presumably supernatural slant(the only element which distinguishes it slightly from most other titles of its particular feather)

Amidst the ho-hummery of "fight for your life" action, be ready for an atrocity exhibition of tongue-cutting, flesh-drilling, bone-crunching torture...graphic scenes served up as "highlights" in films of this type. Admittedly, they are fairly potent. Sadly, REST STOP succeeds only in the gross-out department(though the performance of the leading lady, while strained at points, is distressingly believable despite her character being poorly written)

The worst part of it all is the vague, frustratingly non-resolute finale, and any bit of intrigue this film manages to generate becomes nullified by it. I generally have no problem with oblique endings in movies, but when so many key queries are met head-on with a shrug, the overall feeling one gets is that there was never a solidly devised basis to build upon in the first place.

A mean-spirited amateur undertaking at best, recommended only to preponderant gorehounds who toss off with back-issues of FANGORIA. 3.5/10

I've never made one of these before, but this movie was literally so bad I had to say something about it.

I'm all for independent film-making as the past year has seen of the worst (in my opinion) of Hollywood's showings, the mainstream just seems to have lost touch with what making good films is all about. That being said movies like this really give independent film a bad reputation.

The characters are boring and too stupid to empathize with. The direction is horrible, the plotting is horrible, the plot itself is horrible, stay away, far away. Only one brief scene featuring a female's nude breasts, and even that wasn't worth a second look.

The scariest thing about this movie is the idea of ever having to watch it again. I gave it a 2 and not a 1 simply because the actors were visible and the sound was audible - it earns one point for each of those traits.

I first saw this on a dvd which I own in 2007. Revisited it today n will be rewatching its sequel too. I fast forwarded some scenes. The movie did not make any sense at all then n will never if one doesnt watch its sequel. The film is about a young girl who runs away from home with her boyfriend. Both of em r aspiring actors n r headed to L.A. On the journey they park in some secluded spot n have sex. Dont get ur hopes high. It's a lousy sex scene n most probably Jaimie Alexander's body double. We get to c a truck passing by during this lousy sex scene. Later they escape an accident attempt by the same truck. The boyfriend gets down but the truck driver runs away. Later they stop at an isolated rest stop cos the girl doesn't want to urinate in the fields but she is ready to pee in a dirty toilet n when she comes outta d toilet, the boyfriend n the car r vanished. Now v come to kno where the movie is heading... But it doesnt make any sense. It has a killer, some religious fanatics, torture n some supernatural stuff. This was Jaimie Alexander's first film n had zero idea about her when i first saw this film. M generous with 5 cos the film started well n managed to hold the attention but one gotta c its sequel to dig it.

Young couple on the road, minding their own business and having casual sex in their car during broad daylight. Yet, suddenly, they're being menaced and terrorized by a deranged psychopath in an old and rusty pick-up truck. Hmm, where have I seen this premise before? Oh yeah, now I remember, we've seen this a THOUSAND times before already, and approximately nine hundred and ninety-nine of the other cases were much better than "Rest Stop"! This weak and pitiable new movie is insulting even to the intellect of the most undemanding horror fans, as it doesn't feature a single original twist or memorable gimmick. It's very sadistic and nasty, but every teenkill-slasher flick is sadistic and nasty nowadays, so that's no real surprise anymore, neither. The absolute main problem with this production is the incredibly large amount of dumb plot holes and meaningless sub plots. Writer/director John Shiban damn well realized that the ultra-thin basic storyline nearly wasn't enough to fill a whole movie with, and thus he stuffs up his film like a Thanksgiving turkey with imbecile and nonsensical padding material. Nicole's boyfriend vanishes at an abandoned and filthy rest stop in California. Killing off her character right away wouldn't result in a very long movie and thus she subsequently encounters a motor home family of freaks, suffers from visions (?) in which she talks to the deranged killer's previous victims and she has deeply emotional (and boring) conversations with a police officer who just won't die even though a truck ran over him...twice! The dumb sub plots never lead anywhere and they're definitely the most pathetic and desperate attempts to stretch a movie's length I've ever seen. Instead of all the pointless padding, Shiban should have paid more attention to building up tension and make his lead characters a little more likable. Jaimie Alexander's character Nicole is an annoying and brainless girl, and you won't really care whether she'll survive the ordeal or not. Her boyfriend Jesse as well as the cop are both whining losers and their brutal deaths still weren't painful enough, if you ask me. I counted exactly three sequences, all including torture and gratuitous mutilation, that were gory and exciting enough to bring a sadist smile on my face. That's still way too few for a nowadays horror movie. Basically, "Rest Stop" is simply a miserable attempt to cash in on the success of such films like "Wolf Creek" and "Hostel", but you're better off watching the originals. This was the first film of the new production company called 'Raw Feed'. They're promoting themselves as the new name in great horror, but they'll have to come up with something much better than "Rest Stop" if they want us to believe that.