Road Games
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Movie Reviews of Road Games
Movie Review: A very suspenseful vehicular stalker movie
Summary: 4 Stars
You know, the phrase `this movie will have you sitting on the edge of your seat' gets thrown around a lot to the point of being cliché, but it really does seem to apply to this movie. Not in the literal sense, mind you, as I was lying down when I saw it, but figuratively speaking, that is, unless you are prone to sitting on the edge of your seat anyway in which case forget what I just said and move on. (seems like a dumb place to sit anyway...I mean, aren't you just asking for trouble?) Road Games, released in 1981 and directed by Australian born director Franklin Richards and starring Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis, is an excellent little movie I had heard absolutely nothing about until it was recommended to me on this website.
The story follows an American truck driver working in Australia, hire to drive a load of slaughtered hogs from Melbourne to Perth across a desolate stretch of highway. Stacy Keach plays Quid, an intelligent, self-educated man who is keenly observant of his surroundings, trading quips with his companion, a pet dingo that travels with Quid in his cab. Seems there's a serial killer stalking female victims, and Quid begins to suspect a green van he's seen on the roadways. Soon Quid picks up Hitch (Jamie Lee Curtis), and things begin to unravel at an alarming pace. Quid quickly finds himself a suspect, set up by the real killer, in the spate of grisly murders, and must not only clear his name, but also save his own life, as the mysterious stranger in the green van soon goes from being pursued to being the pursuer with the backdrop being some really beautiful wide-open Australian scenery.
Think this sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock movie? Well, that's exactly what the director was going for and he achieved his goal very nicely. He manages to build the suspense and maintain it throughout the movie, driving it to one of the more exciting conclusions within a film I've seen in a long time. Another nice touch is the way he directly avoids showing the violently visceral aspects of the killer's crimes, only alluding to them. There are many wonderfully, slyly humorous moments littered throughout the film as the director gradually tightens the screws on the viewers. I found the scene with Quid and Hitch at the rest stop/gas station especially grueling.
Along with a beautiful, wide screen presentation, Anchor Bay provides a number of interesting features including an audio commentary by producer/director Richard Franklin, a 20 minute featurette with the director and actor Stacy Keach, a trailer, talent bios, original storyboards, a poster and still gallery, a wonderful five page insert on the movie, and even the original screenplay available on DVD-ROM. If you enjoy thoughtful, well-directed thrillers chocked full of suspense and a minimal amount of violence, then see this movie. It'll be worth your time. If you like this one, I might suggest Duel (1971), Breakdown (1997), or Joyride (2001).
Cookieman108
Movie Review: Someone Is Dismembering Hitchhikers And Hiding Their Pieces Throughout The Australian Outback
Summary: 4 Stars
"Road Games" is a subtle, visceral shocker from director Richard Franklin ("Psycho II" and "Link"). A maniac is strangling beautiful hitchhikers and butchering them like animals. Could it be the guy in the green van who, early in the morning, watches the garbage being picked up outside his hotel room and buries plastic bags in the middle of the desert? Could it be Pamela Rushworth (scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis of "Halloween," "Prom Night" and "Terror Train"), a runaway hitchhiker who keeps appearing along the highways before finally disappearing just as mysteriously? Or could it be Pat Quid (Stacy Keach of "Mickey Spillane`s Mike Hammer"), a lonely, quirky truck driver; he talks to himself and spies on fellow travelers, imagining what they do for a living, while all the time he is transporting slaughtered pigs to market?
In this Hitchcock-like film, appearances can be very deceiving. "Road Games" is more of a psychological thriller than a slasher flick. It has a low body count and not very much blood and gore. However, it is very tense, especially when Pamela disappears and Quid dreads the worst. The beautiful desolation of the Australian outback adds to the fear and isolation felt by the protagonist, Quid, and the viewer. The outback offers a millions places to hide a corpse. Quid does have one companion during his nightmare - an adorable Dingo; however, since it can't bark, it can not warn him of impending danger.
"Road Games" offers a neat package of thrills, chases, mystery and suspense in the Australian outback. Fans of Jamie Lee Curtis will be a little disappointed to learn that her role is a minor but very important one. Having achieved much fame from "Halloween," her role in "Road Games" was more of a very special guest appearance. Stacy Keach gives a remarkable performance as the truck driver who is unhappy with his station in life. Fans of "vehicular stalker" movies, such as "Hitcher," "Breakdown" and "Joy Ride," will want to see this film. As I wrote earlier, it is not your high body count slasher flick that was made popular during the early eighties. Anchor Bay has provided a wonderful package replete with widescreen presentation, closed captions, a collectable booklet, audio commentary and a new "making of" featurette co-starring Stacy Keach.
Movie Review: Thrilling Ride
Summary: 4 Stars
Fans of movies like "Joy Ride" with Paul Walker, "Breakdown" with Kurt Russell, and "The Duel" with Dennis Weaver should enjoy this movie. I saw this when it was first released since I am a fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and Stacy Keach. I think she is great and Stacy Keach does an excellent job as well. Fans of Keach will love this role. I have followed him all his career and I think this is one of his best roles. As an American driving a semi-truck in Australia he hauls freight. As he travels around the countryside with his pet dingo he notices some suspicious incidents along the highway. When he finds out there are murders taking place he tries to catch the killer only to be accused of murder too.
Not so much a slasher but a tension building teaser that keeps you guessing if Curtis is dead or alive. Richard Franklin does a superb job of directing. Many people compare it to a Hitchcock style. They are right because the movie does indeed not center on seeing people butchered. This movie builds the suspense without gore until the shocking conclusion. It allows you to follow along on the edge of your seat as Keach tries to unravel the mystery. Good pace that will keep everyone watching. This is one that all but small children should see. I plan to add this one to my collection.
Movie Review: Clever and intriguing
Summary: 4 Stars
A movie that is highly watchable and a pleasure to see again after all these years. Stacy Keach stars as a truck driver who notices the behaviour of a driver in a green van. Everywhere Stacy goes, the man is close by committing a crime - or is he? Very hitchock in style, the movie keeps you guessing as to what is really going on. Director Richard Franklin makes no apologies for his love of Hitchcock's work, and while this film is largely unknown, it is worth your time just to see how a great director works. Back when this was made, there was much controversy over the use of two american actors for a film set in Australia. However, to finance it back then, it required big names. Unfortunately, it didn't help win the film an audience back in 1981 which surprises me because it really is very good. I assume appropriate marketing of the film was not undertaken.
Road Games has a genuine eeeery feeling to it. If you enjoy watching films with clever direction then check out this film. It is not a horror film as some reviewers have stated, it is more a suspense thriller - A BIG DIFFERENCE!
Movie Review: A lost Hitchcockian-inspired gem!
Summary: 4 Stars
If you are a fan of suspense films or Hitchcock films, you will easily find yourself loving Road Games. Directed by Richard Franklin (Psycho II) and starring Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis who was picked to star in this because of her success with horror films at the time. Actually, Curtis has a limited amount of screen time here as the film centers more around Stacy Keach's character who witnesses some strange activity around a motel and believes a man driving a green van is the serial killer murdering young women in the area. There is nice character development, suspense and even highly entertaining moments. Fans of road movies like Duel, Breakdown and Joyride should enjoy Road Games because it ranks amongst the best of them! The DVD Anchor Bay put together is nice as with most of their releases and there is a "making-of" special feature. I liked the music score in this too which is always a plus. Road Games is a lost treasure that hopefully more people will discover. It can easily be watched again and again.