Read the signs.|Sep. 26, 2003|France|85 Min.|R
Genre: Horror;Mystery;Thriller
Description: On Christmas Eve, Frank Harrington (Ray Wise) decides to take a shortcut through a remote area while driving with his family. Along for the ride are his wife Laura (Lin Shaye), their son Richard, daughter Marion, and Marion’s boyfriend, Brad. As night falls, Frank begins to doze off at the wheel but is abruptly awakened by his family’s screams warning him of an oncoming vehicle. After narrowly avoiding a collision and checking the car, they continue their journey. When questioned by Laura about straying from their usual route, Frank simply says he was bored and wanted a change of scenery.
As the siblings argue, Frank suddenly stops the car, claiming he saw a young woman dressed in white in the forest. The woman, holding a baby, approaches Frank’s window. Feeling concerned, Marion offers to walk so the woman can ride with them to seek help. The woman gets into the car but remains silent despite the family’s questions. They arrive at a wooden cabin, and Frank and Laura go inside to investigate. Meanwhile, Richard wanders off into the woods, leaving Brad alone in the car with the woman and her baby.
Brad tries to make conversation, sharing his intentions to propose to Marion, while Marion rehearses how she plans to break up with him. The woman reveals her baby’s name is Amy and hands her to Brad. When Brad notices blankets covering the baby’s face, he questions how she can breathe. The woman calmly replies that the baby is dead. Shocked, Brad uncovers the blankets and discovers what appears to be a lifeless child, prompting a terrified scream. Hearing the scream, Richard rushes back to the car, but Brad and the woman have vanished without a trace.
Cast director: Jean-Baptiste Andrea
Cast actor: Ray Wise, Lin Shaye, Mick Cain, Alexandra Holden, William Rosenfeld, Amber Smith, Karen S. Gregan, Sharon Madden, Steve Valentine, Jimmie F. Skaggs
Original name: Dead End