END OF THE ROAD is a new Netflix movie in the action, thriller, and drama genres. Sure, there’s also some humor, and towards the End, there are even a few scenes that feel straight out of a horror comedy. For the most part, though, a thriller is the core plot driver.
The small cast delivers some wonderful portrays of likable and recognizable characters. Also, while the plot is pretty predictable, it’s precisely the kind of movie I like to kick back with on a Friday night. Check it out and enjoy it.
Continue reading our
End of the Road movie review below. The film premieres on Netflix on September 9, 2022.
Queen Latifah can carry a movie.
I know, it’s hardly a surprise to anyone (or shouldn’t be) that Queen Latifah can carry a movie. She has so much charisma and heart, which she pours into everything she does. In End of the Road, we start slowly by seeing a family in pain. The husband/father passed away, and the family needs to move.
We know, right off the bat, that money is tight. Or non-existent. So Brenda (Queen Latifah) needs to move from Los Angeles to Houston with her two children and her brother (Ludacris). They are trying to band together after losing their husband, father, and brother-in-law. For me, seeing Ludacris in anything is always a treat. He has perfect comedic timing while also carrying himself in the more dramatic scenes. Queen Latifah is always brilliant, and in the case of End of the Road, she does take the plot and the movie.
As her kids, Sam and Kelly, we see Shaun Dixon and Mychala Lee (Truth Be Told). Both work well thanks to well-written characters and the chemistry between the two and Queen Latifah and Ludacris.
Sure, the plot is familiar, but the characters are new
Of course, we’ve seen the story of “wrong place at the wrong time, and now a normal family is in trouble” plenty of times. Usually, however, the characters are white, and the family consists of a husband and wife with a son and a daughter. And the dad is usually the one to take care of business.
In End of the Road, the family is black, and it’s a widow with her brother and her two kids. Also, she’s the one to take care of business. Not that he isn’t willing to do whatever it takes to help. It’s just that Brenda (Queen Latifah) is both an ER Nurse and an intelligent woman, so she knows that avoiding escalation in most situations is key to a safe outcome. Also, they very smartly introduce some key details early on: The adult siblings (Queen Latifah and Ludacris) were Army brats and moved 27 times in 17 years. They relied on each other, and their dad taught them to hunt, fight, and other practical skills.
In other words, We’re informed of skills that will become important down the road. Literally!
The End of End of the Road on Netflix
While the Netflix movie End of the Road is relatively predictable in most ways, the ending is fantastic. Some moments get so violent that we venture into horror. Also, some deaths are straight out of a horror-comedy script.
Yes, on purpose. Trust me; you can’t miss what I’m referring to here!
I’ve focused on the family in this review, but Beau Bridges also has a crucial role. He plays the traditional role of a Police captain (or State Trooper, in this case), and we also meet his wife. She’s portrayed by Frances Lee McCain, who should be familiar to many.
She’s been in everything from Gremlins to Footloose, Back to the Future, and even Stand By Me. In this movie, she is also in one of the most memorable moments towards the End.
Watch End of the Road on Netflix now!
Millicent Shelton is the director of End of the Road. She’s a director who has been making a tremendous career directing fantastic TV series. These include 30 Rock, Titans, Insecure, The Walking Dead, Tell Me a Story, and many more. She’s directed in virtually every genre of television. Having watched this movie (with a crisp runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes), I can’t help but hope we’ll get more feature films from Millicent Shelton as well. The screenplay for this Netflix action-thriller was written by David Loughery, with the original script written by Christopher J. Moore.
I won’t claim that this is wildly innovative or surprising because it isn’t in terms of its plot. However, the fact that it features a black family and the mom is the real hero and fighter is certainly still innovative. Also, it’s the movie you can enjoy and then let go of again. Maybe, except for some of those wild scenes towards the End!
End of the Road is on Netflix globally from September 9, 2022.
Details
Director: Millicent Shelton
Cast: Queen Latifah, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Beau Bridges, Mychal Faith Lee, Shaun Dixon, Frances Lee McCain
Summary
Recently widowed mom Brenda fights to protect her family during a harrowing road trip when murder and a missing bag of cash plunge them into danger.
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