The Shortcut (2009)

Two brothers come upon a rarely used shortcut in their new town.

Director:

Nicholaus Goossen

Writers:

Dan Hannon, Scott Sandler

Stars:

Katrina Bowden, Jeremy Bastian, Cavan Cunningham

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Katrina Bowden	...	Christy
Jeremy Bastian	...	Benjamin Hartley (1940s)
Cavan Cunningham	...	School Administrator
William B. Davis	...	Benjamin Hartley
Benjamin DeWalt	...	Benjamin Hartley (1950s)
Nicholas Elia	...	Tobey
Josh Emerson	...	Taylor
Raymond J. Barry	...	Old Man / Ivor Hartley (as Raymond Barry)
Dave Franco	...	Mark
Jonelle Gunderson	...	Sally (1950s)
Shannon Jardine	...	Ms. Milan
Scott Lyster	...	Dougie
Christine MacInnis	...	Mrs. Hartley
Daniel Maslany	...	Ivor Hartley (1950s)
Maxine Miller	...	Grandma

Storyline

High school senior Derek was adjusting to life in a new town when he discovered an overgrown path leading into the woods. According to his classmates, the local kids used to use it as a shortcut before a malevolent farmer began chasing them away with a shovel. Eventually, a few of the local kids went missing under mysterious circumstances. Rumor has it that the old man got them. Now years have passed, and no one dares go near the path. The townspeople have simply accepted the fact that it's off limits. But Derek suspects that the old man is hiding something, and he's determined to find out what it is. Once he uncovers the sinister secret that lies just beyond the trees, however, he may not live to reveal the awful truth.

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Plot Keywords:

shortcut | killing an animal | younger version of character | water hose | war veteran | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and terror, language, sexual material, thematic elements and brief teen drinking

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Atalho

Filming Locations:

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Happy Madison Productions,Minds Eye Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min (European Film Market)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only movie produced by Adam Sandler's production company "Happy Madison Productions" under the moniker "Scary Madison".

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Goofs

It is announced at the beginning of the film that the year is 1945, and there is a prominent banner for Hartley High School's Homecoming. A young man entering the Marines says he's going to be stationed in Germany, which is important because he has to "Stop the Nazis." Homecoming dances at USA high schools are in October or November, which means the dialogue takes place in October or November of 1945. Hitler committed suicide in April of 1945, and the Nazi party quickly dissolved. World War II was over by the time this conversation took place.

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Connections

Referenced in Rewind This! (2013)

User Reviews

Soo boring and predictable

Pretty disappointing, this movie is sooooo boring and predictable. You will know on what is going on even before it really starts. It has been already seen a million times in much better and more serious production. If you are a real horror movie gore and you don't have anything else but this film to fill up your already boring evening, then maybe yes - you go ahead and see it. Otherwise, as a sincere horror lover I do not recommend you the film. Teenage horror films can be a lot of fun, but not this one. For the reason of the good camera as well as few tense scenes, I will give this film two out of ten, but then that is pretty generous.