The Road (2009)

Australian director John Hillcoat directs this grim post apocalyptic vision based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN). A father (Viggo Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smith-McPhee) travel a barren gray landscape hoping to merely survive (and avoid the roving bands of hooligans who will rape you, kill you then eat you) as the father loses his humanity and the child desperately tries to hold on to his. It’s relentless in its bleakness and Hillcoat doesn’t spare us anything. This isn’t MAD MAX! No action and no heroes. It’s an achievement of sorts but guaranteed to empty seats. I counted at least 4 people who walked out. Still, if you hang in there, there’s an almost darkly lyrical beauty to it. Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce and a nearly unrecognizable Robert Duvall co-star.