The Shortcut
Seen it?2009 | 100 min | Mystery, Horror, Thriller
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With mixed reviews and a lukewarm 44% audience score, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- One for people who love a good growing-up story and anyone who loves trying to stay one step ahead. It gets the awkwardness and the high stakes of being young. Fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark should feel right at home.
- The mood
- Scary.
- The pace
- Keeps the tension tight, at 1 hr 40 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Not ideal if you just want to unwind.
When Derek moves to a new town and discovers a shortcut through the woods to his high school, he learns about a crazy old man who lives near its path: Legend has it that he abducted a group of teenagers years ago. Ignoring the warning, Derek and his friends set out to uncover the dark secret that's buried deep in the woods. But will they survive to tell it?
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
Mixed reviews
- AudiencesBelow par
Our audience score: 44%
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 36K people sought it out in the past year
More like this
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Saturday SpecialAnother high school horror film, and a Saturday Special.
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II Weeknight WatchAnother high school horror thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
I Still See You Weeknight WatchAnother high school thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Urban Legend Weeknight WatchAnother horror thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Dark Harvest Weeknight WatchAnother horror thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Nicholaus Goossen
- Drew SeeleyDerek
- Shannon WoodwardLisa
- Dave FrancoMark
- Katrina BowdenChristy
- Raymond J. BarryOld Man / Ivor
- Kent AllenMr. Hartley
- Wendy AndersonDerek's Mom
- Jeremy BastianBenjamin (1940s)
- Cavan CunninghamSchool Administrator
- Shannon JardineMs. Milan