Red Lights Ahead: A weird little lesson in family values

Is this worth your time?

Honestly? Maybe if you’re into antique cinema or just really like watching old-timey domestic meltdowns. If you want high-octane drama or even a halfway decent plot, keep walking. People who get annoyed by characters who are cartoonishly lazy will probably want to throw their remote at the screen.

The whole thing feels like a stage play that someone accidentally filmed. Everything happens in the living room, and everyone is yelling about money. It’s exhausting.

The kids in this movie are the worst. They’re these grown-up leeches who act like spoiled toddlers the second they hear the word 'gold mine.' You know they’re going to be miserable when the scheme blows up, and honestly, it’s kind of satisfying to watch the bubble pop.

Then there’s Grandpa. He’s the classic 'meddling old soul' character, which is code for 'the guy who causes all the problems but pretends he’s doing you a favor.' Sending fake gold mine checks? That’s not a lesson, that’s just gaslighting, buddy.

There is this one moment where the dad, Pa Wallace, is just staring at his house after they lose everything. The camera stays on him for a bit too long. It’s not profound, it’s just awkward. It feels like the director forgot to yell cut.

You can tell this isn't exactly The Battles of a Nation in terms of scale, but it doesn't try to be. It just sits there, feeling a bit damp and dusty. It’s got that weird, stiff rhythm of 1930s dialogue where nobody talks like a human being, but everyone talks like they’re reading off a pamphlet.

• The kids are cartoonishly unlikable.
• The twist at the end is basically a giant 'gotcha' from Grandpa.
• I’m still not sure if I like this or if I just liked the coffee I was drinking while watching it.

The movie gets slightly better once they move back to their small, old house. At least then the stakes feel real, even if the acting is still a bit all over the place. It’s the kind of flick you put on while you’re folding laundry. It doesn't demand your full attention, which is probably for the best.

Is it better than Money for Speed? Probably not. But at least it doesn't take itself as seriously as some of those other dramas from that era. It’s a weird little artifact. Watch it if you’re bored, skip it if you want to be moved. 🤷‍♂️