11:14

Stars: Rachael Leigh Cook, Barbara Hershey, Hilary Swank, Colin Hanks, Shawn Hatosy, Patrick Swayze, Henry Thomas

Director: Greg Marcks

This is one of those interlocking dramas whose episodes are all related, but whose final pieces only fall into place at the very end. An ensemble piece, it's all spun round a crash on the highway at 11:14pm, as somewhat inebriated driver Jack (Thomas), distracted by a call on his mobile, finds his windscreen suddenly shattered and a body lying in front of his car.

We then see both the events that follow and the (often grisly and gruesome) events that led up to the crash.

Jack is 'helped' by Norma (Hershey) who, thinking the covered body is that of a deer, calls the cops through a friend and leaves. Panicking and foolishly trying to hide the corpse in the boot of his car, Jack is arrested but flees. As do fellow arrestees Buzzy (Swank) and Duffy (Hatosy), whom we'll meet again.

Minutes earlier, Norma's husband Frank (Swayze) finds the disfigured body of a boy who had been making love to Frank's nympho daughter (Leigh Cook) when killed in a freak accident.

Three teenage joyriders and a much-harassed cop also have key roles to play as the plot spins full circle, bringing death or disaster to most of those involved.

Somewhat after the style of Crash, this clever thriller lacks that film's powerful impact and isn't unfolded with nearly the same dynamism, its individual segments hardly compelling until things start to become clearer towards the end. Hatosy's is the best of several competent performances.

David Quinlan

USA 2003. UK Distributor: Lionsgate. Color by De Luxe.
86 minutes. Not Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 2, Drugs 0, Swearing 2.

Review date: 09 Jul 2006