One actor, one tiny set: Those are the terms director-writer William Dickerson has set for himself in this film about a yuppie named Jackson Alder (Neil Hopkins) who’s trapped in his car by a mudslide.
Admittedly, it’s an SUV, but this is still a highly restricted scenario, and Dickerson efficiently answers all questions about what happens if you pour a ton of dirt over a car. “Detour” opens post-mud and stays put, save the movies Alder views on his iPhone, and the dreams he has as the air runs out.
Outside the car, the film runs into trouble. Alder’s an ad man, glib shorthand for shallow and arrogant, but he’s a vague character, with only banal reasons to repent or survive.
His live-in lover (Brea Grant) is pretty, loving and vacuous. Her scenes include gardening, Easter eggs and not one remark that might conceivably drive a man to claw his way to the surface for another chat.
Dickerson and his star are better when concentrating on how Alder preserves his oxygen, stays hydrated and keeps the car from collapsing around his ears. Alder’s ingenuity suggests a more resourceful and worthwhile man than the script otherwise depicts.
“Detour” does a fine job of giving drivers yet another reason to stress out, but that anxiety doesn’t extend to its hero’s fate.