DVD Review - Transit

Previously published for Front Room Cinema in 2012...

As the father of two troublesome teenage boys and husband to a wife near the end of her tether, Caviezel plays Nate, a man who is determined to spend some quality time with his family in order to put his past behind him. Only recently released from prison, Nate inadvertently becomes involved in the fallout from a heist when a gang of thieves hide their loot amongst his luggage which jeopardises the family's plans for a peaceful camping holiday. Much like in A History of Violence, the criminals don't begin to realise they have messed with the wrong guy until they are in far too deep and events soon get completely out of hand.

Primarily producers and distributors of horror films, After Dark Films churn out a wide selection of genre pictures every year, and with a choice of five or six movies there are always one or two gems lurking amongst the more tawdry pictures. Following on from Antonio Negret's flawed but entertaining horror Seconds Apart last year, also released by After Dark, Transit is a step in the right direction and it appears that the director is more comfortable shooting a film that is grounded in reality. Whilst I am yet to watch their other selections for this years batch of releases, I think it is a fairly safe bet that Transit will be one of After Darks better pictures and is a great ninety minute thrill ride that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

I have never understood why Caviezel doesn't get more starring roles, he constantly takes on challenging parts, always standing out as a solid actor, and it is his performance in Transit that provides the film with a very intriguing character. He faces a number of difficult choices as the film unfolds but stays alert, desperate to prevent this family holiday becoming unforgettable for all of the wrong reasons.

The entire family soon become involved in a heart-stopping game of cat and mouse with the criminals which stretches their loyalties to breaking point. Most of the action takes place in an around an isolated swamp which is intersected by the road the Sidwell family are travelling along, and this gives rise to some dangerous situations for both parties. When the two collide there are some violent scenes which showcase why After Dark have decided to branch out into thrillers, as there are instances which could be deemed horrific by those unaccustomed to gory scenes.

Unfortunately, there are a number of flaws with the movie; the criminals make a number of questionable decisions, and the plot does verge on the far-fetched towards the end but Negret delivers a palpable sense of tension that keeps you routing for the Sidwell family throughout. This is one B-movie that should not pass you by, it's ninety minutes of pure entertainment that manages to transcend its low budget thanks to the break-neck pace of the script and solid performances throughout.

3/5

Transit is available to buy in the UK through G2 Pictures