Joy Ride (B or 3/4 stars)
3 college-aged people on a road trip from Colorado to New Jersey prank a truck driver on their CB radio; then must try to escape when he turns out to be a psychotic killer in 'Joy Ride', directed by John Dahl. You see, during their trip, they never imagined that a cruel joke would take a deadly turn; and Lewis, Venna, & Fuller (Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn) find themselves being relentlessly stalked by the maniac driver who's looking for much more than an apology. I have to say, though the plot is borderline preposterous, even unintelligent, 'Joy Ride' is also darkly funny, rather unnerving, & frightening as all get-out.
2 brothers, Lewis & Fuller start-out on their cross-country journey anticipating nothing but a normal trip. On the way, they pick-up Lewis' girlfriend, Venna, & head on down the road. Having just been released from a Salt Lake City jail, and looking for a good time, Fuller pulls a practical joke on 'Rusty Nail' (voiced by Ted Levine), the name of a trucker they hear on the radio. Lewis pretends to be a woman & coaxes the lonely trucker to a nearby motel for a sexual rendezvous. Before long, however, the joke turns bloody (the poor man staying in the motel room number given by Lewis is murdered). After this, the 2 brothers & Venna find themselves being pursued & taunted by the faceless truck driver. Though they consistently hope that his retribution is over ... all hope is lost.
Aside from this being 'mindless' popcorn entertainment, & the fact that you have to use a little suspension of disbelief, 'Joy Ride' makes for a well-paced, 90 minute, outrageous thriller that more than makes you cringe (in a good way). Combining suspense, tension, macabre humor, the film is stronger than early every other film like it that's been released in recent history. When I mentioned humor, I meant it. There's an uneasy to watch, but hysterical (nevertheless) sequence where 'Rusty Nail' orders Lewis & Fuller to enter a roadside diner stark naked, sit down, & order something. It's funny, but it's also never un-scary; as not following this order would mean brutal deaths for the both of them. Though 'Rusty Nail' is never seen, he's as ominous & threatening as any visible villain.
Paul Walker is fine as Lewis; he's the clean cut guy at the center of it all. Leelee Sobieski is fine as the stand alone female. But it's Steve Zahn who impresses the most. Not only does he provide comic relief in a lot of the dangerous situations, but he's more than capable in dire straits, as well. And Hell, the entire climactic sequence is the epitome of 'dire'. It's downright horrific (again, in a good way). The funny thing about these 3 characters is ... though they're our 'protagonists', they're not innocent, either. They don't deserve what's happening to them. But they pushed over the first domino. The black comedy in 'Joy Ride' is fine-tuned, the action will keep you on the edge of your seat, & the horror scenes will make you jolt up out of it.
2 brothers, Lewis & Fuller start-out on their cross-country journey anticipating nothing but a normal trip. On the way, they pick-up Lewis' girlfriend, Venna, & head on down the road. Having just been released from a Salt Lake City jail, and looking for a good time, Fuller pulls a practical joke on 'Rusty Nail' (voiced by Ted Levine), the name of a trucker they hear on the radio. Lewis pretends to be a woman & coaxes the lonely trucker to a nearby motel for a sexual rendezvous. Before long, however, the joke turns bloody (the poor man staying in the motel room number given by Lewis is murdered). After this, the 2 brothers & Venna find themselves being pursued & taunted by the faceless truck driver. Though they consistently hope that his retribution is over ... all hope is lost.
Aside from this being 'mindless' popcorn entertainment, & the fact that you have to use a little suspension of disbelief, 'Joy Ride' makes for a well-paced, 90 minute, outrageous thriller that more than makes you cringe (in a good way). Combining suspense, tension, macabre humor, the film is stronger than early every other film like it that's been released in recent history. When I mentioned humor, I meant it. There's an uneasy to watch, but hysterical (nevertheless) sequence where 'Rusty Nail' orders Lewis & Fuller to enter a roadside diner stark naked, sit down, & order something. It's funny, but it's also never un-scary; as not following this order would mean brutal deaths for the both of them. Though 'Rusty Nail' is never seen, he's as ominous & threatening as any visible villain.
Paul Walker is fine as Lewis; he's the clean cut guy at the center of it all. Leelee Sobieski is fine as the stand alone female. But it's Steve Zahn who impresses the most. Not only does he provide comic relief in a lot of the dangerous situations, but he's more than capable in dire straits, as well. And Hell, the entire climactic sequence is the epitome of 'dire'. It's downright horrific (again, in a good way). The funny thing about these 3 characters is ... though they're our 'protagonists', they're not innocent, either. They don't deserve what's happening to them. But they pushed over the first domino. The black comedy in 'Joy Ride' is fine-tuned, the action will keep you on the edge of your seat, & the horror scenes will make you jolt up out of it.