Southbound is a 2015 film created by the trio known as Radio Silence consisting of Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, and Tyler Gillett. They are best known for V/H/S and Ready or Not. They are also directing 2022’s upcoming Scream sequel. 

Southbound is an anthology that takes place around a desert and a strip of highway that connects several stories together. Five tales of terror interlock to follow the fates of a group of travellers. Over the course of the longest night of their lives, the group must confront their worst nightmares and darkest secrets along a desolate stretch of desert highway.

Like most people, I have been watching many movies as COVID continues. Southbound caught my attention because it is an anthology, takes place around a desert, has survival horror elements, and I am a big fan of both the V/H/S and Scream franchises. 

There is a lot to love about this movie. The desert feels like a character itself and is integral to the character interactions, set pieces, and build up. The pacing is fantastic, the 90 minutes are used very well. The story feels complete, having both depth and based on lore. 

The desert is shown both during the day and at night. As a viewer, you can feel the heat, dust, and the pure vastness of the landscape. The characters acknowledge and interact with the desert and highway quite a bit throughout the runtime. 

The shots used for transitions truly standout. The way the stories move seamlessly into each other to signify the start and end of segments is phenomenal. For example, going from the accident segment to the jailbreak segment, a character is on the phone and continues their conversation as the story moves along. 

The effects and sets outside of the desert in Southbound consist of practical filming locations, practical effects, and VFX/CGI. Everything practical is done very well however the CGI leaves a lot to be desired. Even so, it is still more than watchable and does not detract from the story.