(https://i.imgur.com/uKdyXQ6.png)
Studio: Arrow Video
Release Date: 8/24/2026
Rating: R
Film Grade: B
The Story: Malcolm Rivers’ lawyer and psychiatrist are racing against time, arguing that their client’s execution should be stayed due to evidence that was withheld during the trial. Elsewhere, ten strangers converge on a shady hotel, seeking shelter from a torrential thunderstorm that has blocked the nearby highway. Among them is a murderer who has plans for the seemingly disconnected group.
My Take: Director James Mangold gives us a solid psychological mystery/thriller with a script by Michael Cooney that was inspired by Agatha Christie’s and Then There Were None. But this is not a simple clone or retelling of that story. One of the characters even mentions the similarity of their situation to the better-known movie version, Ten Little Indians. But the comparisons are largely superficial and intentionally misleading. Knowledge of Christie’s work will not tip off viewers as to what’s actually going on; it only sets the stage.
The movie is heavy on atmospherics, with nearly constant rain, thunder, and lightning elevating the unease. The weather helps capture the trapped feeling, with no cell phone reception, spotty land line, and interference with a police radio. That isolation element is key to a movie like this, and it’s set up well here. Production values perfectly replicate the run-down roadside motel that few people would consider stopping at under normal situations. Furnishings are old and dingy further enhancing that uneasy vibe.
We learn much about the characters as the story unfolds. Told in a series of intercut scenes, some of which are flashbacks, the story moves along briskly. Most of the violence is either offscreen or out of frame, letting the viewers imagine the grislier parts in their own minds, but without losing any of the tension. The story structure is unexpected, which works in some ways and hurts in others. The mystery aspect of the story is resolved at the start of the third act. That makes things clear to the audience, but at the same time, lessens the impact of the remaining story. I found the twist to be interesting and unexpected, with clues being found throughout the first two acts, but it also felt more hollow than fulfilling.
The characters are drawn distinctly and surprisingly well fleshed out. Each has their own secrets that are slowly unveiled as the story progresses, creating possible fodder as suspects. This is well-handled by Mangold and the cast, who turn in impressive performances from even the minor characters in what is essentially an ensemble piece. Notable are John Cusack as the level-headed Ed, John C. McGinley as the almost autistic George, and Ray Liotta as a tough-guy cop. The always-interesting John Hawkes gives the sleezy hotel manager a quirky touch. There isn’t a bad performance to be found.
Visuals: This film takes place almost exclusively at night, which can be a challenge, but cinematographer Phedon Papamichael (Nebraska, Ford V Ferrari) has done an excellent job with the lighting and camera work. We get deep, rich blacks, with sharp highlights providing great contrast. Details are strong, even in shadows, giving the movie a noir-like feel. There are few daylight scenes, but they’re practically over saturated with color, for reasons that are part of the plot. I wish more nighttime movies were shot with this one; it’s an excellent example of how to make the most of low light conditions.
Audio: The disc contains the original 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix. While the omnipresent rain could have benefitted from an Atmos remix, my processor’s DTS-X upmixer did a fine job of adding that pitter-patter sound to the top speakers, helping enhance the immersion. Subs are used to add bass to a sports car and umph to the frequent crackles of thunder. Discrete sounds are used at various points in conjunction with the story, and dialog is clear.
Alan Silvestri provides an engaging score, complemented with reverberant drums and rousing strings. A heartbeat-like rhythm underscores some dramatic moments. The musical soundstage is wide and expansive, keeping the audience engaged and on edge.
Special Features: As usual, Arrow provides an exceptional amount of bonus content. The two audio commentaries make for a great listening experience. It’s interesting to compare the takes of the director and writer, with their independent viewpoints. We learn that the film actually built the hotel on a soundstage, with special overhead sprinklers providing the rain and strobes recreating lightening. It gave me an appreciation of how much work was put into its creation. The deleted scenes are mildly entertaining, but wouldn’t have added much to the plot, so they were best left on the cutting room floor. The storyboards directly show what was planned versus what was captured via split screen, making it a fun feature for film fanatics.
- Archival audio commentary by director James Mangold
- Archival audio commentary by screenwriter Michael Cooney
- I Met a Man That Wasn’t There, a brand new interview with actor Pruitt Taylor Vince
- Producing Identity, a brand new interview with producer Cathy Konrad
- On The Set, an archival behind the scenes featurette
- Deleted scenes
- Storyboard comparisons
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring two choices of original artwork
- Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Andrew Cardno and original production notes
Final Verdict: I had vague memories of this movie when rewatching it, with the “twist” coming back to me shortly before the reveal. This isn’t exactly a cheat, but it does come across as gimmicky. While that part of the story didn’t quite work for me, all of the plot elements leading up to that remained gripping with events quickly escalating out of control providing a palpable sense of dread. This all works due to Mangold’s directing and the excellent acting that is remarkably good for this genre. The nod to Christie’s work is appreciated, with the movie charting its own distinct course. My wife and I enjoyed it equally.
Highly recommended to fans of the genre, Arrow has given this a top-notch treatment with excellent video qualities. They continue to impress with their attention to these smaller, older titles.
Lightly Irreverent Dialog: “And there, sitting at that desk right there, was the manager, face down in a Banquet potpie, dead.”
https://youtu.be/TQkG2x3qTf4
This review was written by a human without the use of AI.
My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup