This review is based upon the USA Region 1 dvd:

DARK RIDE is released on the original After Dark Horrorfest 8'Films To Die For' range. An effective throwback to the 80's slasher cycle, and in particular, director Tobe "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" Hooper's "The Funhouse" on which this falls into the same category. DARK RIDE's opening (set in the late 80's) details two young schoolgirl friends who take a journey on the funfair's ghost train, but who end up in a gory fate at the hands of killer Jonah. The movie then moves forward to the present day, and we meet our six teens, who, like in most of these movies, go off for Spring Break, with sex and drugs on their minds. While stopping off at a grotty petrol station, one of the teens finds a leaflet detailing the reopening of the attraction and they decide to detour and spend the night there (as you do..) - meanwhile, our "killer" Jonah escapes from a mental institution and returns to said ride. This then sets the pace for the rest of the film, as Jonah stalks and kills our victims until the climactic twist at the end...

Overall, DARK RIDE is a fun, if at times slow build-up, gory chiller. Setting the film within a ghost train, the scares come good and fast, with false jump-scares and gory "real" killings - one stand out moment is when an unfortunate cop's head is carved in half - the gory effects are very well done, and the film picks up pace in the middle half. Unfortunately you can see the twist-ending a mile off, and some of the plot holes are wildly over-looked. But this is a fun film that really should be checked out. I don't know if it was my region one copy or not, but the soundtrack volume varied greatly, music blasting while the talking scenes at times barley audible - minor quibble and don't let this put you off - rounding things off are a nice set of extras (including a original version of the opening) - let the dark ride begin...