“You can checkout anytime you like, but you can never leave”

RELEASED IN 2016 and directed by Andy Palmer, "Badlands of Kain" chronicles events when two young women (Rachelle Dimaria & Katrina Norman) embark on a road trip from Southern California to Flagstaff, but breakdown near Kain, Arizona, where the people are weird.

This is a low budget indie mystery/horror, but it’s professionally made. The plot is a little reminiscent of “Messiah of Evil” (1973) with elements of “Psycho” (1960/1998). It plays like a movie-length Twilight Zone episode, albeit set in the modern day. The story needed tightened up, however; 20 minutes could’ve easily been shaved off the runtime. But I didn’t really mind; the two females kept my attention, especially Katrina Norman. Speaking of which, the creators kept things tasteful with only one tame underwear sequence and no nudity.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 48 minutes and was shot in Lake Isabella, Kernville & Bakersfield, California. WRITER: Rachelle Dimaria, who plays the protagonist, Shannon.

GRADE: B-/C+