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The horror anthology "Southbound" is a hit-or-miss affair, a bunch of half-formed ideas that never coalesce into a satisfying shocker.
The five interlocking stories start with two blood-splattered guys (Chad Villella and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, half of the four-man directing collaborative Radio Silence) trying to drive faster than the not-metaphorical demons chasing them.
Their story cuts to another (directed by Roxanne Benjamin) of a female punk-rock trio (Fabienne Therese, Nathalie Love and Hannah Marks) encountering a band of Satan worshipers. This gives way to writer-director David Bruckner's story of a motorist (Mather Zickel) trying to undo a hit-and-run incident, followed by Patrick Horvath's tale of a guy (David Yow) literally going through hell to save his sister (Tipper Newton), and finally back around to Radio Silence again with a nasty little tale of a teen (Hassie Harrison) trying to survive a home-invasion robbery.
The shocks are delivered with solid technique, in spite of the microscopic budget. Unfortunately, most of the stories feel cut short, and only Bruckner's story provides any real payoff.
'Southbound'
Opening Friday, March 18, at the Tower Theatre; not rated, but probably R for strong violence, gore and language; 89 minutes.