Review of The Road (2009) by Thequietgamer — 26 Aug 2016

Slow and gray, this post-apocalyptic film isn't likely to be everyone's cup of tea. The emphasis isn't so much on the survival aspects these characters must go through, but more on the emotional bond between father and son. Don't come into this expecting a lot of action. The movie barely has any at all.

It's a touching and dark tale. The son really is the only thing that keeps the man going, and thanks to the strong acting and direction the love the father has for his son is completely real here. It adds a sense of beauty to the bleakness of their world. It's emotionally affecting to see how the boy acts as the tether that keeps the man's humanity.

It's emotion over action here. Lot's of dialog and reflecting are the core of the experience. There are a few scenes where the tension is ramped up to add a little pulse to the affair, but nothing really happens. It's clear that humanity has gone to crap and other people are a danger to the characters. There are no real moments of conflict though. The majority of the movie is rather silent.

That's not really a bad thing. I like the emphasis on emotion over action. The way the apocalypse is used as a tool to show the hopelessness of the father and son's situation, rather than just how screwed up humanity can get. It's a very personal tale that leads to a strong, powerful drama that's admittedly slow on pace and many thrills. There were moments where I was left wishing something a little more exciting would happen, but for the most part I really enjoyed this different angle.

It still includes the elements of violence and survival that one would come to expect from a post-apocalyptic setting. Those elements just aren't the focus. It's all about the love a father does (or should) have for his son. It grabs at your heart and shows the cruelty of the end of the world in a different way than other films of this ilk. It has it's boring moments, but I was never once not invested in the characters fates. It's grim and emotional in almost all of the right ways.

8.