Hush (2008)

Dir: Mark Tonderai

Failed writer Zakes Abbot (William Ash) is motoring along the M1 heading north and wrapping up his job of replacing the advert posters in rest stop bathrooms. Besides him on this rainy night is his girlfriend Beth (Christine Bottomley) taking a nap with a sleep mask on. Thirsty, but not wanting to disturb Beth, Zakes leans over trying to reach a Thermos of coffee on the floor of the passenger compartment. Inadvertently cutting off a truck while distracted, the truck driver (Andreas DIE HARD Wisniewski) swerves and speeds past the car. In doing so the rear sliding door rolls up revealing a horrible site. The cargo area of the truck is a large cage that imprisons a naked woman who is screaming for help. Zakes is shocked by the image but before he can react the truck door slides down to a slightly open position. Questioning the now awake Beth as to if she saw anything, she didn't, Zakes is unsure what to do. Beth, believing that he did indeed see a captive woman, tells him to phone the police. On the phone with 999 he is able to report that a truck driver has kidnapped a woman but due to mud covering the license plate he isn't able to give police the number.

Their already rocky relationship comes to a head under the stress with Beth loudly chastising Zakes for not doing more to help the kidnapped woman (and not remembering more of a holiday they took together or being able to commit to the relationship... nag, nag, nag). Zakes, thinking he has done enough, pulls into a motorway service area to complete his job. While he changes out posters, Beth sits in a restaurant drinking coffee and making up her mind to leave Zakes. After arranging for a lift from a friend Beth is no where to be found. Frantic that he can't find Beth any where in the service area it becomes clear that the truck driver has kidnapped another woman, Beth.

First time feature film director and writer Mark Tonderai (who went on to helm the mediocre Jennifer Lawrence starer HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET), creates a taut, tension filled film. Yes, all the expected tropes such as jump scares, the public bathroom scene where the hooded killer checks the stalls, the police who think our hero is the killer and the odd old couple living in the middle of nowhere are here but many of them are twisted in unexpected ways. The film is comfortable on one hand with its shop worn cliches so we know we are being driven to the expected destination but the sites and landmarks along the way are new. HUSH is a well acted, directed, written and just unbelievable enough to make for a thrill ride worth taking.

*** out of ****