2/5 Lifetime Quality Horror
  by The Tao of Netflix (Washington, DC)
This movie was mostly boring with ineffective scares and twists. In short, the movie is about a seemingly crazy guy living on a remote farm (in the woods), and the interactions of a group of teens with this guy. While the movie was generally well done (i.e., good production values, decent acting, good camera work, etc.), it just wasn't that interesting. There were almost no scares, just more ongoing tension with kids being hunted by the old guy. The movie did present a twist at the end, but it was stupid. Is the identity of the bad guy what we think it is? The answer to this question gets addressed with a twist that really has no impact, save for one very momentary surprise. The quality of the story seemed on-par with what my wife forces me to watch on Lifetime - slow, dull and over-directed. If you are forced to watch this, it won't be your worst experience ever, but I'd highly encourage someone to rent before buying.

4/5 Entertaining Teen Thriller
  by Dayna Newman (Tampa)
The Shortcut wasn't a hardcore horror flick but then again it was a PG-13 thriller .
I didn't mind that there wasn't gratuitous violence in it and I usually like a lot of gratuitous violence.

The actors are appealing and the characters interesting enough to keep your attention.It's more of a mystery and that lends to it's appeal.

They don't sugarcoat anything or have any less victims of violent deaths because it's PG-13 they just make you use your imagination more instead of showing you the actual kill in full effect.

There are a couple of twists that I saw coming but it was still a good story and cleverly done.

I think even a slasher fan "like myself" would enjoy this movie,I did.

There is a story within a story.The back story is the how the Shortcut came to be and as time goes by reveals one of the mysteries..

3-1/2 Stars


5/5 Horror Freak
  by Jo Hegedus (Western North Carolina)
I thought this movie would be okay but when I received it and finally got to watch it, it turned out to be a great movie. Held my attention all the way until the end. Good acting, and film quality was very good !!!!!!!!!! So for all you horror fans out there, you won't go wrong purchasing this one.

5/5 The Shortcut
  by Georgia L. Williams
I loved this movie. Although it is rated PG 13, I loved watching a real thriller that let me use my own imagination instead of the bloody gore of most current scarey films produced these days. It really was frightening. A must see for the Halloween season. The stars were so believable and I loved seeing new fresh faces. They should be vieing for Oscars in their furtures. Drew Seeley is an really attractive young man and has such a convincing performance. I was scared to death.

4/5 The Shortcut delivers
  by A. Macintosh
The premise is simple: A group of teens, on their way home from school, come across a rarely-used shortcut. Turns out it's rarely-used for a reason. An old man who's owned a farm there his whole life doesn't take kindly to visitors. And if you think you know what's coming next, you have no idea.

Unlike a lot of recent horror flicks, "The Shortcut" has no big special effect budgets or gratuitous violence. The movie's thrills are created by its creepiness and atmosphere; it builds suspense instead of raising the body count. I'd compare it more to "Halloween" or classic Hitchcock than "Saw" or "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." "The Shortcut" is subtle, smart, and, with its hot cast--including Katrina Bowden ("30 Rock") and heartthrob Drew Seeley ("Another Cinderella Story")--a great date movie.