In Scenic Route, Michael (Duhamel) and Carter (Fogler), lifelong friends who have drifted apart, are on a road trip when their old pickup breaks down, leaving them stranded on an isolated desert road. Nobody can pick apart a man like his best friend, and as the relentless elements of the desert grind them down, they start to attack each other's life decisions with unwavering brutality. As they question who they are and who they could have been, their agitation leads to a physical confrontation and ultimately knife-wielding madness, and what begins as an inconvenience becomes a very real life or death struggle. (Gary Reber)
Special features include commentary with the Goetz Brothers and Josh Duhamel, the theatrical trailer, and upfront previews.
The 1.85:1 1080p AVC picture is photographed digitally and is intensely graphic, with a natural rawness due to the bleakness of the desert setting. Color fidelity is excellent, with natural hues and fleshtones throughout. Blacks are never exaggerated, and the vast night sky is well delineated. This is an intense visual experience. (Gary Reber)
The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is entirely frontal focused and dialogue centered, with a subtle surround presence for the desert atmospherics. The dialogue is generally integrated spatially but at times is very much forward sounding. The music score is limited, with some subtle surround presence. This is an intense sonic complement to an intense survival situation. (Gary Reber)