After tweens Bobby and Kevin are kidnapped on their way back from
baseball practice, what follows is just about on the right side of palatable
Here is an example of a rare phenomenon: a film in which children are the heroes that is not a children’s film on any level. In fact, David Charbonier and Justin Powell’s tightly confined and well-marshalled slasher-thriller walks a fine line: not only does it subject its two tween leads to multiple “scenes of threat”, but – and this is genuinely unusual – it shows tangible bodily harm being inflicted on them with enough frequency to make this a rather dismaying watch. Its best-friends-for-ever message is barely enough to keep the film on the right side of palatable.
Bobby (Lonnie Chavis) and Kevin (Ezra Dewey) – 12 or 13 years old – are living their best lives, dreaming of
California and getting in some baseball practice, when both of them are abducted and bundled into a car boot. Kevin is removed first, leaving Bobby to force his way out; he emerges in the garage of a remote and dingy house. He’s about to run for his life when he remembers their pledge – “Friends until the end” – so he does a 180° turn. Tiptoeing around the evil babysitter holding them hostage, he locates a whimpering Kevin in a locked room on the upper storey.