I hate vacations, and A Perfect Getaway reinforces my feeling about them. Don’t get me wrong. This movie is an excellent thriller. I loved the suspense, beautiful scenery, believable performances and exciting ending. But watching A Perfect Getaway reminded me of how things can go terribly wrong when you’re expecting to have a great time away from work and all your cares. Of course, what happens in this film represents the worst scenario ever -- not simply the usual lost luggage, third-degree sunburns, missed connections and so forth.

Here’s what I can reveal about the plot without spoiling it for you. A bride and groom have been murdered while on their honeymoon in Hawaii. Will the killers strike again? And, could these murderers be among three other couples hiking a dangerous trail in a scenic Hawaiian location? If so, who are the killers and who are the targeted victims? That’s the big mystery in this clever thriller written and directed by David Twohy (Below).  

Steve Zahn (Daddy Day Care) and Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) portray one couple, Timothy Olyphant (Catch and Release) and Kiele Sanchez (Stuck on You) another, with  Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) and Marley Shelton (W.) rounding out the excellent cast. Our suspicions mount, especially concerning Nick (Olyphant), mostly because of the way the versatile actor goes deep into this character -- and because we have trouble believing his outlandish stories about being a Jedi Knight. If you enjoyed Olyphant as the determined sheriff in HBO’s Deadwood, you’ll be quite surprised at how good he is playing a very different type of role here. We can’t help liking Nick, even though he seems a bit deranged at times. I think this is Olyphant’s best work to date.  

The other actors are also fascinating to watch. Jovovich’s beauty almost tops the gorgeous scenery, Zahn holds his own, as usual -- and Sanchez offers us an intriguing female character, one who doesn’t even blink at skinning a goat(!). Although Hemsworth and Shelton appear in only a couple of scenes, they certainly succeed in making us worry about what they’re up to.       

WARNING: You must pay close attention while watching A Perfect Getaway. If you don’t, the surprises may seem too shocking. In fact, this is one of those movies you might have to view twice before understanding what really happened. Consider yourself warned. You’re welcome.       

(Released by Rogue Pictures and rated “R” for graphic violence, language including sexual references and some drug use.)

For more information about A Perfect Getaway, please go to the Internet Movie Data Base or the Rotten Tomatoes website.