Fasten your seatbelts, John Dahl is back on form. And while Roadkill isn't a patch on the brilliant neo-noir The Last Seduction (1993) it's a polished, adrenaline-fuelled thriller that is slick and funny enough to overcome the arguments of any cynics tempted to point out its not-quite-airtight plot and a few nagging lapses in logic and continuity.
When his dream girl-from-next-door Venna (Leelee Sobieski) announces that she has split up with her boyfriend, cash-strapped college freshman Lewis (Paul Walker) forks out for a '71 Chrysler Newport in order that he can pick her up from college and drive her home for the holidays. Along the way, he stops in Salt Lake City in order to bail out his black sheep of an older brother Fuller (Steve Zahn) who is being held on drunk and disorderly charges. Fuller insists on coming along for the ride home and equips the Chrysler with an ancient Citizen's Band radio - "like a prehistoric Internet" - and persuades Lewis to play a prank on raspy-voiced trucker Rusty Nail. Adopting the guise of sweet-voiced Candy Kane, Lewis tricks Rusty Nail into a rendezvous at a nearby motel where he is misdirected to the room of a bad-tempered fellow guest.
But instead of a providing the evening's entertainment, the end result is horrifying. Dahl is no goremeister, but instead harnesses the audience's imagination to the film's full advantage. We never see what happens in the motel room, we are only shown the brothers listening through the wall as their initial sniggers turn to increasing anxiety. When Dahl introduces an extended silence, the tension is palpable. From then on, it's a cat and mouse game with the teenagers caught up in a cross between Deliverance (1972) and Spielberg's road rage thriller Duel (1971). Dahl is even confident enough to emulate Hitchcock with a chase through cornfields a la North By Northwest (1959). The director knows when to put his foot down on the accelerator, but he also knows when to ease off the tension and brake sharply with an injection of black humour.
Reader comments about Roadkill
Nissa (koalalou@hotmail.com) writes:
What happened at the end?? I fell asleep.... Sarcasm?? yes... unfortunately I didnt fall asleep. Steve Zahn was the only saving grace, he was rather funny .... The scariest thing about this movie was the end left it open for a sequel!! PLEASE NOOOOOO!!!!
Craig Fitzpatrick (Email address withheld) writes:
OK, so it's not a cinematic masterpiece but I found it very entertaining. Perhaps that's precisely the point; if you watch this film expecting it to be on a par with Citizen Kane (or whatever you DO consider to be a cinematic masterpiece)then you're going to be disappointed. If you watch it purely for escapism and fun then you may end up getting more than you expected and be pleasantly surprised.
Kayla Goodchild (hootchi_momma@hotmail.com) writes:
I thought the movie was bloody excellent i love Paul Walker he such a great actor and if anyone else says differently they need their head checked out, the movie was great but i must say the only reason i went to see the movie was because Paul Walker is in it but im glad i did it turned out to be a great movie.
Lisa Blundell (blundelllisa@hotmail.com) writes:
Well, what can I say?? I really think that Roadkill was excellent!! I did really go to see at first because of Paul because I've been his biggest fan since 1999. I was kinda disappointed with the ending, but I think that there would be a good chance of a sequel. And all I say is...bring it on!! :) This is one of the best thrillers I've seen and one of Paul's best. :)
Nicci (Email address withheld) writes:
I loved this movie. Paul Walker is a hottie and Steve Zahn is a dude. Can someone tell me please though why was it orignally called Joyride. I am in New Zealand and it was at the movies over 18 months ago, has only come out on dvd/video as Roadkill about a month ago. Cheers
bob carroll (recarroll@postmaster.co.uk) writes:
It was originially called Squelch, then delayed for release in the US where they changed the ending by 28 minutes and called it Joyride. It flopped, which is a pity since it one of the most thrilling B movies in a good few years. I think the UK and Oz both share the same region on DVD and therefore you have a UK version were it was alled Roadkill to emphasise the thriller aspect of the film. Joyride is poor, Roadkill not much better, and while Squelch is the most fun of the possible titles it still isn't fantastic.
If you are interested in the way movie change titles through production read Art Linson's "what happened next?" which is very funny and details the problems finding a name for the Anthony Hopkin's bear film, The Edge.
Nicci (Email address withheld) writes:
Thanks heaps Bob. Really appreciated
Phila (Email address withheld) writes:
It's the best film ever, particularly with Paul Walker in it. At last it's coming out to buy. I've been waiting since it was on at the cinemas
shaun (Email address withheld) writes:
i dont really understand the ending. The man that gave him his credit card after they had run out of the petrol station was he the killer or was he set up cos u dont really see their faces. i would be very grateful if you could explain it to me thanks a lot shaun.
sadie (sadieb22@hotmail.com) writes:
hey,i thought the film road kill was fantastic and i dont usually watch thrillers. but if you look carefully when they are hidding in the field from the trucker near the end of the film, does anyone agree with me that steve zahn is wearing a hat for a small part, look carefully. then tell me what youthink, am i going crazy or what?
Elli (sparky_elli@angelfire.com) writes:
I just watched 'Jeepers Creepers' which is somewhat like 'Roadkill' and I have to say that I much prefered 'Roadkill'!
The fact that the chaser/killer was actually human made it soo much better that 'Jeepers Creepers' which was OK until the point where the run over killer's wings pop out and one realises they are a made up monster. That point makes the movie loose it's scary factor.
'Roadkill' features things that could happen to anyone who is clever enough to get one of those transmitters and therefore is realistic and shit as scary!
stacey percy (www.btopenworld@.com) writes:
!Roadkill was an excellent film. because also there was paul walker in it, and i think he is a great actor, and also he is hot and sexy, this is one of his best films he has made. steve zahn is funny, and leelee sobieski is a great actor too. the film is absolutley fabulous and i can not wait too buy it, and watch it everyday. it is the best horror movie i have seen in years,and years. it is wicked!
Carly (Email address withheld) writes:
I think RoadKill is one of the Best Film i've seen and you can watch it over and over again, I think that the Characters in it are good aswell i think that the 2 Bros together are Ace!!
And just to add Paul Walker = 100% Fit,lol
luke fairmaner (fairmaner@hotmail.com) writes:
i think the film was quite good but what i want to know is there a road kill 2?
Joe (cyborg@iol.ie) writes:
The film was great up the ending where it ends up making no sense.
The fat truck driver who kidnaps the girl is killed in the end.
was this rusty nail? seems not.
was rusty nail the guy who gives them the credit card?
The fat psyco is dead in the truck at the end you can see its the same watch he wears from the previous scenes.
Can somebody explain what is going on.
madz (madblag@aol.com) writes:
if anyone can tell us a website where we can find a picture of who rusty nail really is it would be really appreciated. thanx
sas (Email address withheld) writes:
please can sum1 explain the ending. we have the same questions as a lot of others appear to have on this message board, so y is no one saying who the killer was? does no one know? who was rusty nail? was he the killer. please tell us
shanicwawa (Email address withheld) writes:
what the hell..it is called joyride...not road kill..i thought that this was awsome movie..i prolly woulnt have liked it if paul walker wasnt in it..he is soooo..HOTT!..and steve zahn is was funny..but i wish they wont have put the alternet ending instead it was so much more intence..plus paul got a kiss..haha..this moive was kinda scary but funny too..but if you havent seen this try it out..paul will make it worth you wait..
taz (Email address withheld) writes:
yer i just watched the film and i do not get the ending, it makes no sense.can someone tell me who the actual killer was..the guy with the mustache??
Alex Stables (alexstables@hotmail.co.uk) writes:
what is the make of paul walkers wristwatch in the film roadkill anyone outhere know?
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