Getaway (2020) – Film Review

Getaway is an indie horror film about three young American girls who head off to a holiday resort for a fun weekend. Unfortunately, when one of them becomes the latest addition to long list of abducted girls, it throws a massive spanner in the works.

The film begins with a short scene featuring a young woman’s body being dragged to a freshly-dug grave at the front of a farmhouse. The following scenes introduce Tamara (Jaclyn Betham), Maddy (Scout Taylor-Compton), and Brooke (Landry Allbright).Maddy and Brooke are already at the resort showing off their curves and catching some sun. Tamara, who is about to set off and join them, will be traveling alone and appears destined to arrive later than expected. First she is delayed by love-struck sheriff Jerry (Jamil Walker Smith), who arrives at her home just as she is leaving and is keen to talk to her about a second date. Then, midway through her journey, Tamara’s car runs out of gas, leaving her stranded by the side of the road.

Seconds after the vehicle has rolled to a halt, a pickup truck pulls up behind her and brothers Merv and Kib ask if they can be of assistance. Obviously the dominant brother, Merv’s offer of help is intermingled with sexual innuendo, but he has a can of gas in the truck, so Tamara is soon on her way and, although later than expected, makes it to the resort safe and sound. However, later that night, when she and her friends are out partying, someone sends them over some drinks, one of which has been spiked. Tamara gets the drink with the drug, is soon feeling woozy, and when she goes outside for some air, falls victim to Merv and Kib, who throw her into the back of their truck and take her home to meet their pa, who turns out to be a real nut-job.

Pa has brought his boys up to believe that, when they abduct women, fill them with seed, and then send them off to heaven, they will have angel babies—and by murdering young women like they do, they are doing the Lord’s work.

Unfortunately, this time the family may have made a mistake because, after they string up Tamara in the barn, she tells them she is a witch, warning them that all their victims are going to come back and make them pay. This is particularly unnerving for Kib. He is more sensitive than his kinsfolk, who take Tamara’s words with a pinch of salt. However, it isn’t long before there are signs of paranormal activity and the entire family grows to believe they may have bagged themselves a witch.

Sometimes known as Getaway Girls, Getaway is an okay film but may not be dark or scary enough for some viewers. Unlike a lot of films about people who are abducted by cults that live in the woods, there is no blood and guts on display. If you are looking gratuitous horror, Getaway won’t appeal. It’s a story-driven film that doesn’t need scenes of spurting blood or exposed organs to help prop it up.

As for the quality of the acting, it’s more than okay. There is no badly-delivered dialogue or woodenness. That’s not to say Getaway doesn’t have its faults. A few scenes lack credibility. For instance, one minute Tamara is drugged, the next she is a feisty female kicking ass. Drugs don’t wear off that quickly. It’s not believable. However, Getaway is an indie movie, so you’ve got to cut it some slack. Give it a chance. It may surprise you, and, with a runtime of just 76 minutes, it doesn’t require you to commit too much of your time.

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