Curve (2015)

Curve is a psychological horror film directed by Iain Softley, released in 2015. With a short duration, the film brings to the audience a creepy, tense and survival story, revolving around the main character Mallory - a young girl struggling to survive in a life-threatening situation.

The story begins when Mallory is on her way to meet her fiancé when her car breaks down on a deserted mountain road. By chance, she is helped by a strange man named Christian. However, not long after, Mallory discovers that he is not as good a person as he appears. Christian quickly reveals his true nature as a cruel murderer and intends to kidnap her. In an attempt to resist, Mallory causes the car to crash and get stuck in a ravine - with her trapped in the car, while Christian luckily escapes.

From here, the film moves into the survival phase and the battle of wits between the two characters. Mallory is seriously injured and cannot get out of the car. She must find a way to survive in harsh conditions, lacking water, food and facing the fear of being killed by Christian at any time. The plot is tightly constructed, evoking a feeling of suffocation, anxiety and suspense for the viewer.

A highlight of Curve is the excellent performance of actress Julianne Hough as Mallory. She truly conveyed the despair, physical pain and fierce determination of the character to survive. In addition, the film also raises profound questions about survival instinct, trust in strangers and human limits when facing death.

Although not a blockbuster horror film, Curve still leaves an impression thanks to its simple but effective dramatic construction, along with the message of sobriety and strength in harsh circumstances. This is a film worth watching for those who love the survival psychological horror genre.