Roadside Prophets (1992)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(976 ratings)

Screenwriter/electrician Abbe Wool makes her directorial debut with the offbeat road movie Roadside Prophets. Brooding factory worker Joe (X front man John Doe) takes a road trip in order to scatter the ashes of his co-worker Dave Coleman (David Anthony Marshall). Riding his vintage Harley Davidson,… More Screenwriter/electrician Abbe Wool makes her directorial debut with the offbeat road movie Roadside Prophets. Brooding factory worker Joe (X front man John Doe) takes a road trip in order to scatter the ashes of his co-worker Dave Coleman (David Anthony Marshall). Riding his vintage Harley Davidson, Joe leaves Los Angeles and heads for a small Nevada town called El Dorado to fulfill Dave's final wish. His journey is complicated by a small fry named Sam (the Beastie Boys' Adam Horovitz), a wannabe biker who continually lights off fireworks and nurtures an odd obsession with Motel 9. Joe also has to cope with making daily phone calls to Angie (voice of Sonna Chavez), his co-worker back in L.A. who is giving him sick days in exchange for the promise of a hot date. While traveling through the desert, Joe and Sam meet various eccentric characters played by the likes of David Carradine, John Cusack, Timothy Leary, and Arlo Guthrie. They eventually end up at their destination, which turns out to be a washed-up gambling town called Jackpot. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Abbe Wool
Genres: Action & Adventure, Comedy

On DVD: Oct 10, 2006

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Tries its utmost to be weird and aimless; and if that's what rocks your boat, it ends up sort of hitting the jackpot for the chosen few.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
It's easy to see why Roadside Prophets became an under-the-radar cult classic.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
A failed, would-be cult item with funny cameos.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

While biking across the Nevada desert in search of a particular spot to cast a buddy's ashes, stoic factory worker Joe runs into annoying but decent youngster Sam. The carpe diem message would have worked better if their quirky mini-adventures had been a bit more interesting or… More
While biking across the Nevada desert in search of a particular spot to cast a buddy's ashes, stoic factory worker Joe runs into annoying but decent youngster Sam. The carpe diem message would have worked better if their quirky mini-adventures had been a bit more interesting or added up to a whole greater than the parts, but the aimless neo-hippie idealism (witness cameos by Arlo Guthrie and Tim Leary) makes for a mildly pleasant ride.

Cast

            John Doe as Joe Mosely

            Adam Horowitz as Sam

            David Carradine as Othello Jones

            Dr. Timothy Leary as Salvadore

            Arlo Guthrie as Harvey

            Barton Heyman as Sheriff Durango

            Jennifer Balgobin as Ms. Labia Mirage

            John Cusack as Caspar

            Bill Cobbs as Oscar

            Lin Shaye as Celeste

            Lee Arenberg as Happy Days Cook

            Onice Bodozian as Four Jack Bartender

            Harry Caesar as Jesse

            Sonna Chavez as Angie Abbott

            Don Cheadle as Happy Days Manager

            Manny Chevrolet as Too Free Stooges Band Member

            JD Cullum as Mr. Andres

            Beth de Patie as Daisy

            Flea as Too Free Stooges Band Member

            Harty Grinner as Jackpot Motel 9 Employee

            Hector I as Ramblin Dog

            Pam Lambert as Mini-Mart Cashier

            Nancy Lenehan as Vegas Motel 9 Desk Clerk

            Aaron Lustig as Morning Desk Clerk

            Lena Madjerac as Kitty

            David Anthony Marshall as Dave Coleman

            Jeanne McCarthy as 1st Happy Days Waitress

            Ed Pansullo as Hiram

            Ellie Raab as Gloria

            Nic Ratner as Casino Casualty

            Erica Rogers as Housekeeper

            Tony Ruglio as Too Free Stooges Band Member

            Ebbe Roe Smith as Journalist

            John Snyder as Hank

            Gregory Sporleder as Deputy

            David Swinson as Fred Neiman

            Judith Thurman as Stripper

            Patti Tippo as Casino Cashier

            Viva Vinson as 2nd Waitress

            Pete Weiss as Too Free Stooges Band Member

            Biff Yeager as Bartender

            Billy Ferrick as Too Free Stooges Band Member

            Dick Rude as Too Free Stooges Band Member

            Stephen Tobolowsky as Ranger Bob
See full cast