When you take a tried and tested genre for the basis of your film you really have to the standard stuff really well, or do something a bit different, if you want people to take notice.
For 5150 Elm's Way I want to be kind and assume that the makers were going for different.
The genre in question is innocent person imprisoned by maniac. So, pretty done to death (excuse the pun) you might think. But 5150 Elm's Way does have some good ideas and they are original, I think.
Unfortunately I didn't think the execution of the idea was very good. From the moment the main character Yannick falls off his bike at 10 mph, somehow rendering it completely unusable, you worry that the plot is going to be a bit clunky. And my worst fears were realised as he walked blindly into a mess and then failed on numerous occasions to escape. Even worse, he does eventually escape and then gets recaptured by basically being a moron.
Not having any sympathy for the victim is a major flaw in a film where that is all that is happening.
Some of the scenes where he is trapped are interesting, and the overall premise is promising, but mostly everything bounces off the walls with very little finesse. Which is a problem because this isn't a horror film, it's a thriller... just not very thrilling.
And then there's a vaguely open ending which leaves room for a sequel. Really? I don't think so.
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