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IMDbPro

Avoid the Shortcut

Original title: The Shortcut
  • 2009
  • 15
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
Shannon Woodward, Drew Seeley, Dave Franco, and Katrina Bowden in Avoid the Shortcut (2009)
Spooky trailer for this thriller
Play trailer1:43
1 Video
21 Photos
Dark ComedyTeen HorrorHorrorMysteryThriller

Two brothers come upon a rarely used shortcut in their new town.Two brothers come upon a rarely used shortcut in their new town.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
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.0/10
    4.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nicholaus Goossen
    • Writers
      • Dan Hannon
      • Scott Sandler
    • Stars
      • Katrina Bowden
      • Jeremy Bastian
      • Cavan Cunningham
    • 43User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Shortcut
    Trailer 1:43
    The Shortcut

    Photos20

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    Top cast28

    Edit
    Katrina Bowden
    Katrina Bowden
    • Christy
    Jeremy Bastian
    • Benjamin Hartley (1940s)
    Cavan Cunningham
    Cavan Cunningham
    • School Administrator
    William B. Davis
    William B. Davis
    • Benjamin Hartley
    Benjamin DeWalt
    • Benjamin Hartley (1950s)
    Nicholas Elia
    Nicholas Elia
    • Tobey
    Josh Emerson
    Josh Emerson
    • Taylor
    Raymond J. Barry
    Raymond J. Barry
    • Old Man
    • (as Raymond Barry)
    • …
    Dave Franco
    Dave Franco
    • Mark
    Jonelle Gunderson
    Jonelle Gunderson
    • Sally (1950s)
    Shannon Jardine
    Shannon Jardine
    • Ms. Milan
    Scott Lyster
    Scott Lyster
    • Dougie
    Christine MacInnis
    • Mrs. Hartley
    Daniel Maslany
    Daniel Maslany
    • Ivor Hartley (1950s)
    Maxine Miller
    Maxine Miller
    • Grandma
    Tracylynn Olson
    • Irene
    • (as Tracy-Lynn Pugsley)
    Rob Roy
    • Mr. Armstrong
    Jaden Ryan
    Jaden Ryan
    • Kid #1
    • Director
      • Nicholaus Goossen
    • Writers
      • Dan Hannon
      • Scott Sandler
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews43

    5.04.1K
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    Featured reviews

    7nitzanhavoc

    Average film with excellent twists! Worth a shot.

    The Shortcut is another shining example of how one can almost never trust IMDb's rating system, or the users responsible for it. Either that, or I seriously don't understand the way it's supposed to be. However, if you do watch The Shortcut expecting a 5.0 rated film - you'll be very pleasantly surprised.

    The way I see it, this film is divided into three parts. The first one is the longest and slowest, giving us the exposition and buildup which are quite good - family moves into a new place, the kids in school and their friends, the local urban legend of a place you shouldn't go to, the works! The second part starts about an hour after the beginning, involves a pretty nice twist and is much more fast-paced, with some cat and mouse chases just like in Slasher films. The final part is the ending, which completely blew my head off as I did not see it coming! I thought the film was above average but not by far, and then the ending really got it some more points.

    The acting is good, especially by Shannon Woodward as Lisa. The flashes from earlier years were also well used, and the cinematography wasn't anything special but wasn't bad.

    All in all, I really enjoyed this film, as I'm a sucker for good plot twists, especially towards the ending. The Shortcut, while not a masterpiece, is definitely recommended!
    arfdawg-1

    Why does the Shortcut feel so long?

    Yikes. Really dumb confusing movie. The title translates to "dont go in the woods cuz there's a killer in there. Or is there? The acting isn't all that bad, but there is no cohesive story.

    The plot meanders from the 40s to 50s to present. And then there's a decent surprise ending that is totally ruined by an incomprehensible second surprise ending 10 minutes later.

    It is so out of place you'll be wondering what they were thinking -- like a sequel? Come on folks. Are you delusional?

    In all, you'll just feel let down and like you wasted 90 minutes.

    Too bad.it could have been good with a better script.
    7L_Miller

    Good horror is hard to find....

    There are other reviews, this is just a comment. Movie is decent, ignore the haters.

    Does have some issues (didn't know Nazi Germany was still fighting in fall of '45), plot meanderings, weak points and not exactly a master thespian cast but has some good horror moments, decent banter and semi-plausible character interactions.

    The interesting thing about this movie is its orientation toward not showing the ultraviolence in all its dripping glory. The most visually graphic scene is when one character has his finger broken.

    Personally, I am utterly sick of watching 80 minutes of CGI anatomy trying to take the place of a story. This movie has the sense to use the cutaway (ha ha) approach to violence and I respect it.

    I would watch this movie 100 times over any of that Saw (post Saw 1, which I thought was pretty good) / Hostel torture voyeurism or Rob Zombie crap remake any day.
    5paul_m_haakonsen

    Fairly average teenage slasher movie

    This movie was, well truth be told, fairly average.

    The storyline was pretty much like taken from a mold of how to make a teenage slasher movie, nothing new or super surprising to the story actually. You have your newly arrived family to a town, a crazy old man in the woods, and a bunch of teenagers with their noses in places they don't belong. And with that recipe, "The Shortcut" is set off to an otherwise alright ride.

    The movie moves ahead at a good pace actually, never becoming stale or boring. There is a good turn of events throughout the movie, and some nice character build as well. This is some of the stronger elements that work for the movie.

    As for the cast, well I think they actually put together an alright group of people here for the movie. Raymond J. Barry in the role of the 'old man' was actually good, he did come off the screen sort of aloof, but I wouldn't say he was creepy, as the teens in the movie described him. As for the young cast, well they did good jobs with their characters as well, but for me it was Raymond J. Barry who carried the movie.

    Now, for a slasher movie, there isn't a whole lot of blood and gore, but that is alright, because the movie didn't' really need it. It was more thriving on building up suspense and atmosphere. However, I must say that you have the storyline figured out fairly quickly into the movie, but still, the movie is worth watching. And the ending, had a rather unusual twist to it. Whether you like that particular twist or not is a matter of opinion. I, personally, found the ending to be over the top, it just didn't seem like a wholesome way to round up the movie. But of course, this is a matter of taste.

    One of the better scenes in the movie was the hammer scene. Without giving anything away, you will know what I am talking about when you see it. That scene was so good, and the aftermath was working out nice as well.

    And what was really working for "The Shortcut" was the atmosphere of the setting and scenery. There was a whole seedy, dormant feel to the town in which it took place. And the old man's house, though described as creepy and disturbing by the teenagers, wasn't what they said it was. But, I will say that the old man's house was interesting, and it had a very gloomy feel to it, with some fairly interesting items to be seen here and there.

    As movies go, do not expect the next Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger to be born from this movie. It is a fairly average movie, and it is one that fails to stand out in the slasher genre. Sad to say, but you watch this movie and then it will fade into oblivion, because nothing really makes it extraordinary or standing out in any way.

    I found the movie to prove adequate entertainment for its one and a half hour (approximately) duration, though it is not a movie that I will be returning to for a second time around.
    5Bernie4444

    "I'll get you and your little dog too"

    Derek (Andrew Seeley) high school student hears of a legend where students have been unduly dispatched while taking a short cut that is naturally through the woods. He and his intrepid high school buddies decide to prove or disprove the rumor and at the same time stir up the alleged perpetrator or encourage his socially unacceptable hobby.

    This is your standard run-of-the-mill slasher movie. While there aren't a lot of scantily clad teenage girls squeaking around in this one. Yet we all know what's going to happen; probably a few shots, a few cuts, some smashing things, spooky music, and whatnot. Yeah, there are the standard twists and turns and the obligatory surprise ending that never surprises anyone. For people that enjoy Gore for gore's sake, this might even be a five-star movie. For people looking at scantily clad female girls, this movie is a dud. For people looking at artistry balance and the structure of the movie itself, you will find it so-so.

    Appropriately named movie.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The only movie produced by Adam Sandler's production company "Happy Madison Productions" under the moniker "Scary Madison".
    • 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.
    • Connections
      Features Army of Two (2008)

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    FAQ15

    • How long is The Shortcut?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 17, 2016 (Portugal)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Shortcut
    • Filming locations
      • Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Happy Madison Productions
      • Minds Eye Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

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    Shannon Woodward, Drew Seeley, Dave Franco, and Katrina Bowden in Avoid the Shortcut (2009)
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    By what name was Avoid the Shortcut (2009) officially released in Canada in English?
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