Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)
Wrong Turn 2: Dead End,
directed by Joe Lynch, was the highly anticipated sequel to the cult hit Wrong
Turn (2003). Released in 2007, this film expanded on the original’s premise
while adding a fresh twist — a reality TV show gone horribly wrong. While the
first film focused on a group of strangers lost in the woods, the sequel
follows a group of reality TV contestants who unknowingly become the prey of a
deranged, cannibalistic family living deep in the wilderness of West Virginia.
Wrong Turn 2 is a bloodier, gorier, and more action-packed sequel that adds new
layers of brutality and terror to the franchise.
The Opening Scene: A Gruesome Start
The film kicks off with a
shocking and brutal opening scene. Kimberly Caldwell, playing herself, is a
contestant on a new reality TV survival show called Apocalypse: Ultimate
Survivalist. While driving through the West Virginia backwoods to the filming location,
she becomes distracted and hits a figure standing in the road. Panicked, she
steps out of the car to check if the person is alright, but it quickly becomes
clear that this is no ordinary accident. As she inspects the damage, Kimberly
is ambushed by a deformed cannibal who attacks her viciously. Before she can
react, she is split in half with an axe, setting the tone for the unrelenting
gore that will follow throughout the film.
This gruesome opening
sequence establishes that the cannibal family from the first film is still very
much active in the woods, and their methods of hunting and killing have only
grown more savage. It also introduces the audience to the fact that Wrong Turn
2 will not hold back in terms of violence and shocking deaths.
The Contestants: A Group Unaware of Their Fate
The story then shifts to
the main plotline — a reality TV show hosted by Dale Murphy (Henry Rollins), a
retired marine and survival expert. The show, Apocalypse: Ultimate Survivalist,
pits six contestants against each other in a survival competition in the West
Virginia wilderness. The contestants include:
Nina Papas (Erica
Leerhsen), a tough and resourceful woman who reluctantly joins the competition.
Jake Washington (Texas
Battle), a confident and athletic competitor.
Amber Williams (Daniella
Alonso), a former soldier and one of the strongest contestants.
Jonesy (Steve Braun), the
comic relief, who doesn’t take the competition too seriously.
M (Matthew Currie Holmes)
and Elena (Crystal Lowe), a couple more interested in hooking up than
surviving.
None of the contestants are
aware of the danger lurking in the woods, believing they are just taking part
in a survivalist game for fame and fortune. The show’s producer, Mara (Aleksa
Palladino), and her assistant Michael (Ken Kirzinger), monitor the contestants
from a remote production area, further emphasizing the feeling of isolation.
The Cannibal Family: More
Horrifying Than Ever
The central antagonists of
the film are the inbred, cannibalistic family that resides in the Appalachian
wilderness. The main members of this twisted family include Three Finger, who
returns from the first film, along with new cannibals Pa, Ma, Brother, and
Sister. These characters are grotesquely deformed due to generations of
inbreeding, and they survive by hunting and eating anyone who ventures too
close to their territory.
Unlike the first film,
where the cannibals remained mostly hidden until later in the story, Wrong Turn
2 wastes no time in introducing the audience to the full horror of these
characters. The cannibals are more aggressive, savage, and relentless in their
pursuit of human prey, and their methods of killing are far more brutal and graphic
than in the first film.
The cannibal family is not
only terrifying due to their physical deformities but also because of their
cunning. They set traps throughout the woods, forcing the contestants into
deadly situations where escape seems impossible. The film emphasizes their
familiarity with the terrain, making them near-unstoppable predators as they
hunt the contestants one by one.
The First Deaths: Reality
TV Turns Real
As the contestants begin
the competition, they are completely unaware of the danger they are in. They
separate into teams to complete their survivalist challenges, but it doesn’t
take long for things to go horribly wrong. The first major death comes when
Elena and M wander off to find a secluded spot for intimacy. As they do, they
unknowingly wander into the territory of the cannibal family. The two are
ambushed, and M is brutally killed with an axe, while Elena is captured and
brought back to the cannibals’ cabin.
In a shocking and
disturbing sequence, Elena is tied down and killed in a horrific manner, her
body prepared for consumption by the cannibals. This scene highlights the
grotesque nature of the cannibals' lifestyle and serves as a reminder that no
character is safe in this film.
As the contestants and crew
members slowly realize they are being hunted, the true survival game begins.
The reality show concept is completely abandoned as the survivors must rely on
their instincts and wits to avoid becoming the next meal.
Dale Murphy: The Heroic
Leader
One of the standout
characters in Wrong Turn 2 is Dale Murphy, the host of the reality TV show and
a former Marine. As the contestants fall prey to the cannibals, Dale steps up
as the de facto leader and protector of the survivors. His military training
and survival skills prove invaluable as he helps the remaining contestants
navigate the deadly terrain.
Dale's character represents
the ultimate survivalist — strong, resourceful, and unafraid to confront the
horrors that lurk in the woods. Throughout the film, he engages in a series of
intense battles with the cannibals, showing that he is not one to back down
from a fight. In one particularly memorable scene, Dale confronts Pa in a
brutal hand-to-hand combat sequence, showcasing his strength and determination
to protect the group.
Dale’s leadership and
bravery provide a glimmer of hope for the survivors, but even he is not immune
to the horrors of the cannibals' world. Despite his best efforts, the
cannibals' relentless pursuit leads to more gruesome deaths among the group,
and Dale himself must face unimaginable dangers.
The Survivors: A Race
Against Time
As the group is picked off
one by one, the remaining survivors — Nina, Jake, and Amber — band together in
a desperate attempt to escape the woods. Nina, who initially seemed reluctant
to participate in the reality show, proves to be one of the strongest and most
resourceful characters. Her determination to survive, coupled with her quick
thinking, makes her a key player in the fight against the cannibals.
In one of the film’s most
intense scenes, the survivors come across the cannibals' cabin, where they
witness the horrifying aftermath of their friends' deaths. The cabin is filled
with grotesque trophies made from human bones, and the survivors are forced to
confront the full extent of the cannibals’ depravity.
With time running out and
the cannibals closing in, the survivors must use every ounce of their strength
and wit to stay alive. The film’s climax is a heart-pounding sequence of chase
scenes, brutal confrontations, and desperate attempts to escape the cannibals'
clutches.
The Final Showdown: A Fight
to the Death
The final act of Wrong Turn
2 builds to a tense and bloody showdown between the survivors and the cannibal
family. Nina, Jake, and Amber find themselves cornered by the cannibals, but
they refuse to give up without a fight. Using their surroundings to their
advantage, they manage to outsmart the cannibals in a series of brutal and
inventive battles.
The final confrontation
takes place in the heart of the cannibals' territory, where the survivors face
off against the remaining family members. Three Finger, one of the most iconic
villains from the first film, proves to be the toughest opponent, but the
survivors manage to defeat him in a climactic and bloody fight.
In the end, Nina and Jake
are the last survivors. They manage to escape the woods, but the horrors
they’ve witnessed will stay with them forever. As they drive away, the camera
lingers on the smoldering ruins of the cannibals' cabin, leaving the door open
for future sequels.
Conclusion: A Brutal and
Bloody Sequel
Wrong Turn 2: Dead End
delivers everything fans of the original film could have hoped for — more gore,
more action, and a new twist on the survival horror genre. By introducing the
reality TV show concept, the film adds a fresh layer to the franchise while
staying true to the core elements that made the first film a success.
The cannibal family is more
terrifying than ever, and the deaths are more brutal and creative, making Wrong
Turn 2 a worthy successor to the original. With strong performances from the
cast, particularly Henry Rollins as Dale Murphy, and plenty of shocking
moments, the film stands out as one of the most memorable entries in the Wrong
Turn franchise.
For fans of gory, action-packed horror, Wrong Turn 2 is a must-watch.
