No Right Turn: A Movie Review

Director: David Noel Bourke.

Writer: David Noel Bourke.

A film from Danish filmmaker David Noel Bourke (Last Exit) "No Right Turn" is a fairytale journey, for viewers, seen through the eyes of coke junkie Johnny (Tao Hildebrand) and scheming wife Nina (Laura Bach). Shot throughout Copenhagen this brightly lit ninety-one minute psychological drama shows not only the director's talent, but those of the actors who come believably in this second film from Bourke.

The story involves Johnny suspecting infidelity in his wife Nina after discussions with his English accented drug-dealer Pedro (Sami Darr), of Nina's past behaviour. Johnny dealing with a deviated septum through out of control coke use spins in and out of reality while Nina plans to rob her husband with help from heroine and new confidant Monella (Sira Stampe). However, the cliche that thieves have no honour is taken to bizarre depths when Nina has a brief glimpse of moral responsibility near a set of train tracks.

Shot for an independent budget "No Right Turn" is not entirely in the vein of horror, but more like an inspired, strangely lit, dark children's tale for grown-ups. The sets really pop out visually as the lighting changes from stark neon blues to deep purples and yellows. Very appealing to the eye the film does not have a straight forward story and instead twists and turns until the sixty minute mark. Here the climax forces a confrontation between several characters with strange results.

Most of the cast is from Denmark and the barest of accents means that the characterizations are very watchable as the film flies by. Only the outdoor sets would make the film appear slightly European while the unique plot line shows Bourke's apparent love for North American cinema.

"No Right Turn" is still looking for North American distribution but for those fortunate enough to find themselves in Europe then definitely check out this entertaining piece of film noir that adds something new to the fairytales of the past throughout various film festivals. For now check out the trailer from a previous post, on the film, at this site.

Music/sound effects: 6
Acting/interaction/believability: 7.5
Writing/premise/dialogue: 7.5
Lighting/setting/set decoration: 7

Overall: 7 Smashed Skulls out of 10.

Posted in: 2009,david noel bourke,distribution,fairytale,film review,laura bach,no right turn,north america,sami darr,tao hildebrand,thriller