247

Survival stories are a reliable Hollywood staple. Man against the desert. Man against the Arctic. Man against…the sauna?! That’s right, in 247º F three yahoos get themselves stuck in a steamroom thanks to a fourth yahoo who’s passed out drunk upstairs. Apparently this was based on a true story, but I don’t blame any of them for not stepping forward. It’s not the kind of accident that will earn you much sympathy. However, it does make for a surprisingly engaging movie.

Four mismatched friends hook up for a good time at their uncle’s cabin. After a few beers and some skinny dipping it’s off to the custom-made sauna for some relaxation. But minutes stretch to hours when the door refuses to open. Ideas are tossed around, arguments ensue and finally panic sets in as the heat continues to rise.

For a direct-to-DVD title, 247º F is way above the curve. It’s situation, while implausible at first, becomes genuinely frightening and invites viewers to play the “what would you do” game that is at the heart of a survival film’s appeal. Much is made of star Scout Taylor-Compton character’s dark past and but all that legwork never really pays off. In the end, we simply want to see good people get themselves out of a bad situation. Extras include a commentary and deleted scenes on the Blu-ray.