Please, don’t take the “interesting” path in a strange forest. It’s not worth it. Don’t act “cool” and make a wrong turn, as you might end up like the characters in this 2003 cult classic. So, stay safe, and if luck’s on your side, you’ll end up avoiding an encounter with Three Finger and his sick, cannibal, family.
In this cult classic, we follow a group of young adults; one hippy, a nervous wreck, a cool girl, a soon-to-be doctor, and a horny stoner coupler. It’s honestly your regular list of casualties in a scary film. But, even in the midst of mediocrity, some characters stand out, don’t you think? So, who’s the best character? How about we follow the kids into the woods to see who’s good, who’s decent, and who stole the show? Here are the top 5 best Wrong Turn (2003) characters!
5. Three Finger
Played by Julian Richings
Julian Richings comes through with spine-tingling yelps and horrifying screeches, with a look that you’ll hardly shake after the fiery climax of Wrong Turn!
Three Finger is the fastest and most agile of the cannibals, with a playfulness that resembles a small child. It’s like chasing down helpless victims and sawing up people is Christmas Eve, the way he jumps around, yelling in joy. It’s a sight to see, you know? But it’s a disturbing one, and while he’s mostly an ambigious villain, he has a good amount of personality. In turn, I think he is the best of the cannibals in Wrong Turn 2003.
Fun-Fact: You can hear Three Finger’s yelps and playful screams early on in the Wrong Turn. I am not just referring to moments with tension, but even casual scenes where characters are talking to one another. If you didn’t know to look out for those sounds, you might’ve missed them.
4. Carly
Played by Emmanuelle Chriqui
Carly is the cheerful one in the group, who turns in to the nervous wreck. It’s honestly a really logical, well-timed, transition emotionally. It makes Carly feel very childish and playful, while showing off her maturity and the level of trauma that she experienced. And don’t say that she is “annoying”, okay? Her behavior makes perfect sense. She saw her husband-to-be, Scott, get shot to death by arrows just a few feet from the car she was in. To make matters worse, Carly wasn’t even in the clear, and still had to continue fighting for her life. Therefore, her behavior is the most raw and distressed, and it makes her interesting to follow.
Carly’s best moments come when she’s sharing the screen with other people, especially Scott. It’s obvious that the actors have natural chemistry, and it translates over to their characters. In turn, some of the best, most endearing and heartwarming moments, come when Carly is seen together with Scott.
While I like Carly as character, she has a huge glaring problem. Firstly, while her having anxiety issues and panic attacks makes sense, she doesn’t have a humane survival instinct. She nearly gives up, seemingly wanting to die, on more than a few occasions. It just doesn’t make sense, and makes her come across self-centered. She’s running with Chris and Jessie, slowing them down, because she’s sad and scared? If only she would’ve had a moment of clarity where she pulled herself together and realized her problematic behavior.
Considering that Carly isn’t especially interesting to begin with, being overshadowed by more well-written and well-implemented characters, she’s gonna land on the 4th spot on my list of the best characters in Wrong Turn (2003).
🥉 Scott
Played by Jeremy Sisto
Scott is just a free-spirited hippy-like individual, who wants to elope with his girlfriend, Carly. I guess you could say that he’s the mediator of the group, who’s constantly looking after others. Whether it’s being kind to Chris after hitting their car or sacrificing himself to save his friends, I think that Scott put the feelings of others above his own. It’s what makes him stand out, and it is the reason I highly value him in Wrong Turn.
Most characters in scary films like these are rather bland and annoying. In this case, the top 3 on my list are really likable, with Scott being the most human of them all. What I mean is that he’s down to earth, easy to relate to, and is easily the most likable person in the film. It’s not even close. Scott’s the best. And when his time to “go” comes, you’ll actually feel something inside. And that feeling goes a long way in a horror film.
Related: The 5 Best Characters In The Conjuring
🥈 Jessie
Played by Eliza Dushku
It’s not surprising that Wrong Turn (2003) is heavily remembered for Eliza Dushku. She takes a tropey character, makes he more realistic and personable, while still keeping her edge as an actress. In turn, Jessie comes across as a badass, even when she’s talking to people, as it’s engraved in the actress. It’s not something written into the character itself. Therefore, I think that Eliza Dushku made the character better than it would’ve been otherwise, and I commend her for that!
Jessie is the level-headed, mentally strong and tough individual, who’s often seen making the decisions and acting like the alpha of the group. It’s not something she does inappropriately, but actually does really well. She’s a natural leader, and so trying to figure out situations and calm down people, is a part of who she is. It isn’t forced. With these qualities, she rivals Scott in being the most likable person in Wrong Turn.
While she’s likely considered as the best character in Wrong Turn by many, I feel like her total part in the story isn’t as interesting as that of Chris Flynn’s. In turn, I’m going to place her 2nd on my list of the 5 best Wrong Turn (2003) characters!
🥇 Chris
Played by Desmond Harrington
What I like most about Chris is how realistic his behavior is, through and through. He doesn’t break the red thread. Whether he’s hiding under a bed and holding his mouth or whooping a few cannibals, his character doesn’t sway. Not even for a second. Ever since we’re introduced to Chris, he’s the humble, well-mannered, young man who’s willing to do the right thing. If he lives or dies doesn’t matter to him, as it’s about getting everybody out alive, and doing what’s best for everybody. That’s the reason he was willing to sacrifice himself, why he held the door for others, and why he went back for Jessie. He’s the hero of Wrong Turn.
Heroic lead characters are rarely as likable and relatable as Chris. And while his behavior and personality are the main factors that make him great, it’s his demeanor and actions that set him apart from other male leads in horror films. In Chris, we have someone that literally got caught up in a bad situation. He just wanted to get to his meeting on time, and that’s it. But when thrown into a world of cannibals and death, he persevered in a logical way, without an ounce of super-human abilities. Every action and every step was a reasonable move that any normal person would do, and that makes him very human. While that might not mean much, it’s one of the reasons Chris is an excellent character in my book.
In conclusion, the characters of Wrong Turn might not be the most well-written, but some are great. As for me, In all honesty, I think that Chris is the best character. In turn, I’ll crown him as the king of this list!