Watch Shortcut

Shortcut is a 2020 horror-thriller movie directed by Alessio Liguori, featuring a group of teenagers trapped inside a supernatural entity's territory. The movie starts with some high school students in England, who get on their school bus to take a shortcut through a forest to reach their school. However, things take an unexpected turn when their bus crashes due to a mysterious creature appearing on the road.

The group of students tries to find their way out on foot, but they soon realize that they are not alone in the forest. They encounter various eerie phenomena, like dead animals surrounding them, trees with strange symbols carved into them, and a mysterious fog that reduces visibility. Moreover, the creature that caused their bus to crash starts following them, making their escape even more challenging.

Throughout the movie, Shortcut follows a typical horror movie trope, where each character has their own unique characteristics and is hiding some secrets. For instance, Reggie (played by Zak Sutcliffe) is a brave and outspoken student, who is always on a lookout for signs of danger. Karl (played by Andrei Claude) is the school bully, who eventually reveals his humane side in the face of danger. Queenie (played by Sophie Jane Oliver) is a nerdy student, who seems to be interested in paranormal activities and is the first to notice paranormal events around them.

The teenagers' acting adds a sense of believability to the movie, making their perilous situation feel more intense. The antagonist in the movie, responsible for the mysterious occurrences happening in the forest, is portrayed effectively, creating a sense of suspense, build-up, and tension.

The movie is shot mainly in the forest, and the cinematography is excellent. The movie showcases the beautiful landscape while maintaining the sense of danger lurking around the corner, making for some gorgeous shots. The special effects also add to the horror element, making the scenes of supernatural events realistic and more frightening.

One of the strong points of the movie is the pacing. The opening scenes of the movie introduce each character and establish the premise appropriately. As the movie progresses, the tension builds up, and the stakes become higher, leading to a satisfying climax.

The movie explores themes of friendship and survival, and how they go hand in hand. As the teenagers try to make their way out of the forest, they confront their deepest fears, making them bond with their friends, which ultimately determines their survival.

In conclusion, Shortcut is a well-executed horror movie that takes a unique approach to the well-worn trope of teenagers lost in the woods. It delivers a sense of dread, suspense, and scare, making it an excellent watch for horror enthusiasts. The movie does not rely on jump scares or gore to create intrigue, which is refreshing. The characters' interaction and unpredictable storyline make Shortcut an engaging and thrilling movie to watch.

Shortcut is a 2020 horror movie. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.1 and a MetaScore of 26.