Traffik (2.5 out of 5 stars).

Traffik is a dull thriller that sets up the tension but falls flat with its cliché and annoying characters. The film uses a real event story about a gang of bikers involved in sex trafficking and terrorizing a couple. It is terrifying to see these events do happen in the real world. But the execution in film makes it seem like a lifetime channel movie were there is a little annoying drama and conflict with the characters. The characters make stupid decisions. And the direction lacks in trying to build suspense and thrills.

The plot follows Brea (Paula Patton) were her career as a journalist is very shaky when her boss gives up on her story. Her boyfriend John (Omar Epps) decides to take her on a nice getaway to a secluded rental home. While stopping at a gas station, a group of bikers terrorize them. And Brea runs into a shady lady in the gas station that hides her phone in her bag, which includes secret information about the sex trafficking organization. Once Brea and John finally have a romantic evening to each other. And their invasive friends who is a non stop talker and a cocaine addict Darren (Laz Alonso) and his wife Malia (Roselyn Sanchez). That lady and a group of bikers crash their party when they are searching for that phone and eliminating anyone that is aware of their organization.

The film does have a thin forgettable plot. A journalist who is on the brinks of losing her job for not having a story. Well, sure the sex trafficking encounter will change her course of the career. Sure, Brea and John are trying to go on a private getaway. And all that does not last long when they come across a group of racist bikers. Sure, that cannot come up to any good. Even when Deputy Sally (Missi Pyle) knows there is trouble with them but tends to forget about the towns aggressive bikers. The film had a promising start. The couple being chased by a biker. Was probably the only intense part of the film. Then, their friend Darren who we can all assume is up to no good. When he keeps ruining the surprises that John was setting up for Brea.

For a thriller, there was not much suspense or thrills to keep you entertained. When the bikers show up to their secluded home. And chasing down John and Brea in the forest was not exciting at all. The lighting and direction were so boring. Characters do make stupid decisions that would get them captured. The villain Red (Luke Goss) was so flat. Half way through the film it was becoming a yawnfest when these chases were dull.

Omar Epps was flat with his performance. It was difficult to find Brea and John's relationship believable. Paula Patton was semi decent with her character. Laz Alonso playing an annoying drug addict felt like a waste on screen.

During the climax of the film. Nothing suspenseful really happens. Besides Brea is trying to escape and trying to expose this organization.

Overall, Traffik is a bad thriller. Acting was decent. The suspense and thrills were lacking in the film. The direction and story were boring and very forgettable of a film.

I do not recommend seeing this film in theatres. It is better to wait until it is a rental. Since the film has nothing to show for. No thrills. No suspense. And not even an emotional connection with its flat characters.

Priscilla Quintana is a journalist, fired off her magazine because she can never get at the meat of a story; she always makes it too complicated. That's all right, because she's got got engaged to Omar Epps, and they're off with another perfect couple to a romantic getaway in an isolated estate. That being the case, you know they're going to have drug-trafficking bikers invade, almost kill them all, and so forth.

It's an okay movie, and Ms Quintana and the head of the evil people sum up their positions succinctly -- see what writer-director Deon Taylor did there? -- just before the violent end. It's all right for what it is, but I've got the 1940 THIEF OF BAGDAD playing silently on the TV as I write this: why are these movies always shot in an ugly world with low light levels? Surely a candy-floss word that gets trashed would be a more fitting commentary than the same old same old camera work?

TRAFFIK is the typical kind of low budget B-movie thriller that are made more and more these days. Most of the budget is spent on the cast leaving little left over for any kind of imaginative staging or the like. However, it does offer a modicom of suspense and overall it manages to remain watchable from beginning to end. It's generally predictable but there are a few twists along the way. Omar Epps and Paula Patton play a married couple who fall foul of a violent biker gang, as headed by the villainous baldie Luke Goss. Expect violent murder, brutal fight scenes, and a general sense of nihilism.