A Perfect Getaway

Directed by David Twohy (the man behind cult success Pitch Black), A PERFECT GETAWAY is stylish, slick, and utterly hollow. As a whole, the film doesn't hold up to more than a moment of scrutiny -- but, at the same time, as it's unfolding, you'll probably be too distracted by the gore and tension to care. The film's twist may or may not be a cheat (you'd probably have to go back for a second viewing to determine whether that's the case, and that seems like a fairly cheerless prospect). But while it's playing -- well-shot, well-cut, well-acted -- A Perfect Getaway is a fleeting pleasure for mature audiences who like being scared.

Part of that is the beauty of the Hawaiian setting (although parts of the film were shot in Puerto Rico) -- but another big part is Twohy's clean, simple direction and the caliber of the performers he landed for a fairly modest-seeming thriller. Zahn and Jovovich make their happy newlyweds more interesting than you'd think, and Olyphant and  Sanchez keep you on your toes when you have to ask whether they are or aren't the killers. A Perfect Getaway is, ironically, far from perfect -- but it's a nice enough little vacation for your mind.