A Perfect Getaway

Cliff and Sydney, Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich respectively, travel to Hawaii for their honeymoon with hopes of hiking into the Hawaiian mountains for some adventure. The couple waste little time in encountering their first conflict on what is supposed to be a blissful honeymoon. Upon driving, Cliff and Sydney happen upon two hitchhikers, Cale and Cleo (Chris Hemsworth and Marley Shelton). Cliff experiences initial apprehension about offering the couple a ride, but, after seeing wedding photos of Cale and Cleo, relents and opens the car to the couple. Cale, obviously offended by Cliff’s initial apprehension, refuses and aggressively declines the ride, coercing Cleo to follow his lead.

After parting ways and beginning a hike into the mountains of Hawaii, Cliff and Sydney are informed by fellow tourist hikers of a double murder that occurred in Honolulu. With their unpleasant encounter with Cale and Cleo fresh in their minds, Cliff and Sydney become anxious that the killers are closer in proximity than comfortable, perhaps even on the same hiking trail. This suspicion intensifies when Cliff and Sydney meet Nick and Gina (Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez), a quirky couple also adventuring into the Hawaiian mountains.

The movie soon evolves into a classic who done it and a game of cat and mouse ensues. Both couples are suspicious of each other, and clues to the backgrounds of both couples shape the audiences views of the guilty murderers' true identities.

This film is graphically violent and contains strong profanity, including the Lord’s name. There is also partial nudity and outspoken sexual references.

The character of Nick (Olyphant) offers a comedic break from scenes of intense violence and drama. Olyphant stands out for his comedic timing and athleticism. The editing of the film is colorful and fast paced.

From a Christian perspective, the violence and the topic of murder is offensive. There is a moral battle in the film as to if one is entitled to murder another for their own gain. According to God’s Word, the answer is no. God clearly states His hatred of murder in His grief over murdered Abel and, also, upon making one of the Ten Commandments — “Thou shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13).

A primary theme in the film is that of judgment; the judgments people make about one another due to physical appearances and personality traits, as well as the role that surrounding circumstances play in influencing one’s judgments of a person or situation. All couples in the film judge one another—the recent murders a provocation to assume the worst about people. Jesus tells us not to judge lest we be judged. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says “Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye without first removing the plank from your own?” (Matt. 7:3). However, the argument can be made that judgment is necessary in the pursuit of wisdom and safety in such extreme circumstances. With a mature audience this struggle can be discussed and God’s Word observed.

Overall, this film is suspenseful and entertaining, but the content is not suitable for a younger audience. It is up to the mature discerner if the content of the film is worth the vulgarity it enlists to illustrate the plot.

Violence: Heavy / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Minor

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.