Detour

Detour

Year: 2013

Runtime: 87 min

Language: German

Director: William Dickerson

Thriller

Jackson Alder, a charismatic con artist, finds his life irrevocably changed when a massive mudslide traps him inside his vehicle. Stranded and facing dwindling hope of rescue, he’s forced to rely on more than just his charm to survive. As time runs out, he must confront his own limitations and battle the relentless power of the natural disaster unfolding around him.

Detour (2013) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In a landscape where the earth can turn hostile in an instant, a sudden mudslide buries a lone vehicle deep beneath the surface, sealing the driver inside a cramped, dimly lit tomb. The film opens with a stark contrast between the expansive, unforgiving wilderness outside and the suffocating, improvised shelter of metal and mud inside the Jeep, setting a tone that is as much about psychological tension as it is about physical danger. The world feels raw and indifferent, a place where survival hinges on ingenuity and the ability to confront one’s own inner limits.

Jackson Alder is a charismatic con artist whose smooth‑talking exterior masks a restless drive to outwit any situation. His reputation for relying on charm and quick thinking has kept him afloat in a life of risky schemes, but the entombed setting forces him to reckon with a different kind of challenge—one that cannot be bought, charmed, or talked out of. As the mud presses in, his resourcefulness is tested, revealing a character who must dig deeper than his usual tricks, balancing confidence with a dawning humility.

The film’s tone hovers between relentless suspense and a quiet, introspective melancholy, highlighted by the interplay of muffled sounds from above and the echoing drip of water inside the car. The surrounding disaster becomes a silent antagonist, a relentless force that pushes the protagonist toward self‑discovery as much as it threatens his very breath. Through atmospheric cinematography and a focus on the stark, claustrophobic interior, the story promises a gripping portrait of a man forced to trade his usual deceptions for raw determination, hinting at a journey where survival is as much an inner battle as an external one.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 13:28

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Detour

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