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Horror Cult Classic

Lost in West Virginia, a group stumbles into a nightmare of barbed wire, cabins, and cannibal hillbillies.

WRONG TURN

It's the last one you'll ever take.

2003 · 1h 24m · R · Horror / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Chris and a group of five friends are left stranded deep in the middle of the woods after their cars collide. As they venture deeper into the woods, they face an uncertain and bloodcurdling fate.

Quick Answer

What is Wrong Turn about?

Wrong Turn is a 2003 Germany/United States horror-thriller film directed by Rob Schmidt about stranded travelers who encounter deadly inbred cannibals in the West Virginia woods.

Programmer's Pick

If you thought your last road trip was bad, try veering off the highway into cannibal country. Wrong Turn delivers backwoods terror with a side of barbed wire and hixploitation, proving detours really can be deadly.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

In Wrong Turn, a medical student named Chris Flynn finds himself driving through the remote forests of West Virginia en route to a business meeting. After a stop at a cryptic, unhelpful gas station, he takes a detour down Bear Mountain Road, where he collides with another car. Both groups, now stranded, soon realize their predicament is far worse than a simple accident when they discover that barbed wire was deliberately placed to sabotage their vehicles. As they venture deeper into the woods seeking help, the ominous isolation and unsettling signs hint at a lurking, malevolent presence. The film sets a tense, relentless pace, immersing viewers in a survival horror where civilization is a distant memory and the wilderness offers no mercy.

Details & Specs

Director
Rob Schmidt
Writer
Alan B. McElroy
Release
2003
Runtime
1h 24m
Country
Germany, United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
Pogreshen zavoĭ, Láthos strofí, Pogrešno skretanje, Wrong Turn 1, Povorot ne tuda, Povorot ne tudy

Why This Matters

This film launched the Wrong Turn series and features creature effects designed by Stan Winston, with its production involving a collaboration between Summit Entertainment, Newmarket Group, and Constantin Film.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Rob Schmidt Writer: Alan B. McElroy

Explore More

Why Cult

Cannibal Hillbilly Terror

Face off against a clan of inbred mountain men whose hospitality is nothing short of lethal.

Survival Horror in the Woods

The film strands its characters deep in the forest, ramping up the tension with every desperate step.

Hixploitation Vibes

Lean into the genre’s love for rural menace, with isolated cabins and an unhelpful old man at the local gas station.

Inventive Traps and Barbed Wire

From car-wrecking barbed wire to grisly surprises, the film keeps the danger creative and up close.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Travelers take a detour after a car wreck caused by barbed wire

Threat

Cannibalistic inbred mountain men

Effect

Stalking, capturing, and killing stranded travelers

Setting

Remote West Virginia forests

Questions from the Vault

When was Wrong Turn released? +

Wrong Turn was released in 2003.

Who directed Wrong Turn? +

Wrong Turn was directed by Rob Schmidt.

How long is Wrong Turn? +

Wrong Turn has a runtime of 84 minutes.

What genre is Wrong Turn? +

Wrong Turn is a horror-thriller film.

Where can I watch Wrong Turn? +

Wrong Turn is available to stream on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips