Lost Junction is an interesting little movie that most likely was marketed as a thriller simply because that was the category that it was easiest to shove the film into. Considered on its own, Lost Junction certainly makes some forays into suspense territory, but it also lays claim to some elements of "regular" drama and a few touches of comedy as well. As long as you're not dead-set on seeing exactly the kind of film that's evoked by the DVD cover's tag lines ("A Dangerous Love Affair. A Lethal Deception.") there's an interesting story here.

The first twenty minutes or so of Lost Junction are the best part of the film. Stranded by the side of the road when his car breaks down, Jimmy McGee (Billy Burke) accepts a ride from the friendly Missy (Neve Campbell), who is so helpful, in fact, that she puts him up at her house for a few days while his car is in the shop. All she asks is that he accompany her on a couple of errands to the bank, as she prepares to leave town. Of course, what we know – and Jimmy doesn't – is that there's a dead guy in Missy's trunk... and there's a very good chance that the body belongs to Missy's husband.

That's a great set-up for the story, and Neve Campbell does a very nice job of portraying Missy as a sweet and innocent woman who nonetheless just might be capable of double-crossing and murder. But it's at this point that Lost Junction takes a turn away from being the thriller that it seemed to be; instead, as Missy and Jimmy embark on a road trip to New Orleans, dodging the police along the way. Here the film shifts gears to be a more character-oriented piece, as we get to know the two main characters better, and discover that each of them has their own emotional problems. It would have been easy for the film to get bogged down at this point, and it very nearly does, but the 96-minute running time works to the film's advantage, and the story keeps on at a fairly brisk pace.

In the last third of the film, we get yet another shift in the overall tone. In an attempt to exorcise the demons of his past, Jimmy calls on a childhood friend, and then enlists his aid in a plan to rescue Missy from the problems that she's caught up in. The suspense element of the film is put on the back burner (although it does come back to a certain degree in the very last part of the film) and instead the story takes on some almost comedic overtones.

All in all, Lost Junction is a rather odd film, one that confounds expectations to a certain degree... but I'd rather have that than a dully conventional story. While it's not perfect, in the end Lost Junction offers an enjoyable evening's entertainment.

The DVD

Video

MGM presents Lost Junction in an attractive anamorphically enhanced widescreen transfer, at the film's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The image is clean and bright; noise is essentially absent, though a few print flaws pop up here and there. Colors are natural and vibrant, and contrast is generally handled quite well, though it's a tad on the heavy side at times. Overall, it offers a pleasing viewing experience.

Audio

The Dolby 5.1 soundtrack carries the mainly dialogue-based film satisfactorily. There's not a whole lot of depth to the sound, and occasionally the dialogue sounds rather flat, but it's always clean and easy to understand. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are available.

Extras

The only special feature is a trailer for the film.

Final thoughts

Lost Junction takes some aspects of the "thriller" genre and mixes them with a mainly dramatic (though sometimes faintly comedic) storyline. The result is a film that doesn't quite go in the direction we'd expect from the opening scenes, but in the end, it's a fun ride. It may be a bare-bones disc, but the transfer is good; I'll give it a mild "recommended."