Joy Ride (Road Kill) (2001)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lady D

  
  For me, this was one of the better teen Horrors, with lots of suspense, corny - Yes! Cliched - Yes, but definitely more watchable than most. A guilty pleasure for me.

• Jeff "

  
  Joy Ride is a good little horror film. Though not very original, the film has great tense moments and terrifying, sequences that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Considering that Paul Walker played in this film (I hate the actor) I thought he was very good in this… More
  Joy Ride is a good little horror film. Though not very original, the film has great tense moments and terrifying, sequences that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Considering that Paul Walker played in this film (I hate the actor) I thought he was very good in this film, not excellent, but good. But for me, the performance that made this film was Ted Levine, though he only provided the voice of Rusty Nail, but as far as the characters are concerned, Steve Zahn is the best, he brings a comical twist to the film, and he's a better actor than Paul Walker. Joy Ride as the title of the film suggests is definitely a joy ride to watch. In almost the same style as Steven Spielberg's Duel, this film brings back Rage in road rage. A blast to watch. Joy Ride can be seen as an updated version of Steven Spielberg's Duel. Truly intense and well written, Joy Ride is a superbly crafted Horror film. I can easily compare this film to a roller coaster ride. Every thrilling scene is outdone by the next, and Rusty Nail's cat and mouse game gets more dangerous at every turn. What makes Joy Ride so terrifying is the fact that the horror presented here is fairly realistic and the characters are thrown in ever day situations. Not saying that this could happen, but there are definitely a few nut cases out there. It's the same reason as why Spielberg's Duel worked so well, it was a realistic situation. Which is something that we have here in Joy Ride. A joyous ride into terror.

• Cynthia S

  
  This is one of my all time favorite thrillers. It amazes me how many people I personally know that never saw this movie. Not only was it suspenseful, but had a bit of funny thanks to Stever Zahn.

• Spencer S

  
  Not so much scary or creepy as just plain gross. Trucker killer? Okay then.

• Anthony L

  
  Not great, watch Duel instead!

• Josh L

  
  Better than anyone thought it would be. Delivers suspense and tension.

• Lewis C

  
  Implausible and absurd, but not a complete waste.

• Dean !

  
  A very good modern thriller that has elements from other great thrillers like Duel, The Hitcher. It was enjoyable and will have you on the edge of your seat at times.

• Candy R

  
  Three friends on a roadtrip speak to a trucker who then turns psycho and tries to kill them.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> John Dahl.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn.</b> Somewhere in the earlier years of the new millennium, this film cropped up. Not many knew about it and most ended up seeing it on… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> John Dahl.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn.</b> Somewhere in the earlier years of the new millennium, this film cropped up. Not many knew about it and most ended up seeing it on DVD. I remember seeing it many years ago on the shelf, it didn't look appealing, but it did have a review written on the front of it (then again, what bad straight-to-DVD looking film doesn't?), but I picked it up and I am glad I did. The story follows college student Lewis who is prepared to travel across country to see Venna, his 'friend' miles away who doesn't realize he has an interest in her. On the way through, he passes a police station where he hears word of his brother, once again being held in a cell. As they travel across country, they buy a CB scanner to keep tabs on the cop's whereabouts and to have some fun with the other truckers. When they mess with one of them, it leads to a horrifying trip to not only stay alive, but to save Venna. There are so many key things that make this film work so well, but it still isn't as original as it could be. The screenplay co-written by 'Lost' and M:i:III' man J.J Abrams and unknown Clay Tarver is a strong point. Although it has its fair share of clichés to help introduce the thrills and scares, its everything around them that work. In any common thriller (or film in general), the structure consists of 3 parts....simply, a beginning, middle and end. As it is in any formulaic film, the thrills happen at the climax, with no real relevance for the first two acts.....Roadkill is different. Within the first 45 minutes, we are given a films worth of intensity and excitement, with a mere 10 minutes of down time before it picks right back up for the last 30. The film never tries to focus on its characters because that could be a downfall for the film, making it strangely paced. Instead, it is tightly paced and delivers pure adrenaline, with John Dahl, who builds suspense deftly and delivers an intense atmosphere and style, with a great feel of such classics as 'Christine'. The acting ensemble could have done with an upgrade, although Steve Zahn can be a comic genius and he has his silly moments here, no one else takes the stand. Paul Walker is as terrible as always, with his sudden outbursts, lack of control and his terrible 'scanning eyes' and 'bobbing head' trademarks that he does so much and Leelee Sobieski just adding a visual touch to the film (she is better than this)....thankfully it doesn't falter the film. And out of the 3, Ted Levine's voice has more depth and skill than all of them combined, its quite chilling. It can't pass through without having its clichés, but what we do get is a tightly structured, brilliantly directed thrill ride that is tense and highly enjoyable. A very solid B-movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

• Dan S

  
  I really, really liked this movie. The best Paul Walker movie there will ever be. Just suspenseful all the way, and a great voice job by Ted Levine.

• Dr Blood  

  
  The annoying teenagers in this actually get more than they deserve and Leelee Sobieski looks even more like a young Helen Hunt than usual. Very derivative of "Duel" and "The Hitcher" though still very enjoyable.

• Steve K

  
  Great, dirty little b-movie.

• Dean M

  
  Above average chase thriller that's essentially Steven Spielberg's <i>Duel</i> grafted to <i>I Know What You Did Last Summer</i>.

• Jason S

  
  Creepy thriller with a good cast. It was set up for a sequel that never came.

• Kalel J

  
  A surprisingly good thriller that takes a completely different road to what would be expected of it. Before viewing Joy Ride, I was predicting it to be a horrendous teen thrill affair, but through some fine writing, performances, and masterful direction by John Dahl (who is very… More
  A surprisingly good thriller that takes a completely different road to what would be expected of it. Before viewing Joy Ride, I was predicting it to be a horrendous teen thrill affair, but through some fine writing, performances, and masterful direction by John Dahl (who is very underrated) we are treated to a rare film that abstains from expectation and tradition while still divulging a needed familiarity. It's no surprise, really, when you learn of the reasoning behind this film's taut style and gripping unfolding - screenwriter J.J. Abrams, who hasn't stepped a foot wrongly in each of his projects. But, while the screenplay is never truly bad, the overall story is left with plenty of plot holes and preposterous turns. However, thanks to Dahl's direction and the the ominous disconnection of the killer, those holes become filled with purely enjoyable cinema. Joy Ride (which is more appropriately titled 'Road Kill' in Australia) has many moments where we are hearkened back to the Spielberg thriller, 'Duel', but because of how fresh this film feels at points (thanks also to the naturalistic acting of Zahn) and it's sheer enjoyment factor, this proves to be a film that will surprise.

• Sarah G

  
  This was something I didn't expect to like at all. The story was believable for start, something any teenager would do. One thing that makes this film work is Steve Zahn, he really makes his character believable. Just wish the film stayed with the english title"… More
  This was something I didn't expect to like at all. The story was believable for start, something any teenager would do. One thing that makes this film work is Steve Zahn, he really makes his character believable. Just wish the film stayed with the english title" Road Kill" as it sounds a lot better. Would recomend this film to anyone who hasn't seen it.

• Chris W

  
  It heavily borrows from Spielberg's landmark film Duel, but Joy Ride is still well written and acted, and has enough suspense and tension to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

• Stephen E

  
  Great tongue-in-cheek entertainment. Thrilling and fast-paced.

• Jacob P

  
  One of my favorite road trip horror films. The antagonist made me crack up, but in a good way. I was also suprised Steve Zahn was in this, this really isn't his type of thing. It was still good though, with some very interesting\frightening scenes.

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