SXSW 2024 Review: “Desert Road” – A Genre-Bending & Emotional Journey!

Genre blending is often a difficult feat to master and implement in film. It requires impressive direction and script writing that is able to distinguish what emotions to evoke at various points while staying true to the genres that are being utilized. Especially for a first time director, it is an ambitious goal to be able to create a horror, sci-fi, drama such as Desert Road. Regardless, director Shannon Triplett harnesses the best elements of the genres in order to develop a spooky and eerie story that turns into a testament to how beauty can come from the darkest of times.

SXSW Related: “Sing Sing” Review – A Masterful Production!

Clare (Kristine Froseth) takes a road trip back home to Iowa when she decides that her dream of being a photographer based in California is too far fetched for her skills and drive. On the way home she gets into a crash in which she seeks out help from a local gas station on Route 190. What seems like a simple call and tow truck deal becomes a nightmare as Clare realizes no matter what direction she travels she keeps ending up back at her car, seemingly trapped in an endless loop physically and emotionally.

Kristine Froseth gives it her all as a woman traveling alone having to solve a larger than life obstacle with only her memories and written maps and self written notes to help her out. The handle she has on her character, being able to exhibit pain and strength from one scene to the next, shows her immense talent and long career ahead of her.

Shannon Triplett guides the audience through spooky daylight scenes that keeps the audience hooked, only to drop in science fiction elements that make us question whether this scenario Clare is in is one based in horror or a multidimensional world. When it seems like the audience has a handle on the atmosphere of the film, Triplett hits us with sentimentality and emotion that drives the film home where she intended it to always end up, in the same way Clare is hoping to find her footing. Rarely can one remember a film that turns itself upside down without the audience feeling whiplash. Instead, Triplett’s handle of an intriguing story with thematic concepts that coincide with Clare’s time loop is fantastic.

This movie perfectly captures the feeling of being a person in their 20s with a desired path in mind while struggling to find their way to their destination. As time blends in the film, the same happens for Clare who finds herself living day in and day out trying to consider herself a real photographer, not just a woman who takes photos with nothing to show for it.

Desert Road displays the dangers of living in a constant routine without change, whether that be chosen by the person or through the inability to push oneself further. The film also hits hard in its message of leaving your doubts and caution behind to trust in oneself and others around us. Not only does this film explore personal obstacles every young person must face but she weaves it into a story that is just as horrifying and mind bending as it feels to be in our 20s.

It has a lot going on at times that furthers the plot forward and disorients the audience the way Clare feels disoriented, however never in a way that feels too difficult to piece together. In fact, it helps distinguish the atmosphere and have the audience share in the feelings Clare has.

Desert Road is a film that shoots for the stars with an ambitious amount of genre blending but Shannon Triplett and Kristine Froseth do a wonderful job of keeping it grounded in a way that feels human. It is a worthwhile first feature for Triplett and one that this critic will be revisiting very soon.

‘Desert Road’ Rating – 4/5

Follow Steph (the Author) on IG – @cinemasteph_7