Freeway (1996)

Director:

Matthew Bright

Writer:

Matthew Bright (written by)

Release Date:

3 September 1997 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Her life is no fairy tale.

Plot:

A twisted take on 'Little Red Riding Hood' with a teenage juvenile delinquent on the run from a social worker traveling to her grandmother's house and being hounded by a charming, but sadistic, serial killer/pedophile.

Plot Keywords:

Freeway | Little Red Riding Hood | Nightmare | Trailer Park | School

Awards:

6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Kiefer Sutherland	...	Bob Wolverton
Reese Witherspoon	...	Vanessa Lutz
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Chopper
Paul Perri	...	Cop #1
Robert Peters	...	Cop #2
Ben Meyerson	...	Cop at Truckstop
Craig Barnett	...	Cop #3
G. Eric Miles	...	Cop #4
Wolfgang Bodison	...	Detective Mike Breer
Dan Hedaya	...	Detective Garrett Wallace
Chris Renna	...	Doctor
Kathleen Marshall	...	ER Nurse
Melinda Renna	...	Female Anchor
Guillermo Díaz	...	Flacco
Kitty Fox	...	Naomi Frohlegger - Grandma
Nico Petrakis	...	Girl Gang Member
Michael Merrins	...	Guard
Lorna Raver	...	Judge
Annette Helde	...	Lady Cop
Michael T. Weiss	...	Larry
Theodore Garcia	...	Little Gumby
Manny Rodriguez	...	Marshall
Alanna Ubach	...	Mesquita
Susan Barnes	...	Mrs. Cullins
Conchata Ferrell	...	Mrs. Sheets
Brooke Shields	...	Mimi Wolverton
Christine Mourad	...	News Reporter
Julie Araskog	...	Prosecutor
Amanda Plummer	...	Ramona Lutz
Brittany Murphy	...	Rhonda
Tara Subkoff	...	Sharon
Spantaneeus Xtasy	...	Staff Member
Roberta Hanley	...	Teacher
Michael Kaufman	...	Trick
David Andriole	...	Truck Driver
Monica Lacy	...	Twin #1 (as Monica Creel)
Leanna Creel	...	Twin #2
Louis Mustillo	...	Vanessa's Attorney
Ria Pavia	...	Flo
Sydney Lassick	...	Woody Wilson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Deborah Landis	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
Bob Pepper	...	Truck Stop Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Matthew Bright

Writing credits
Matthew Bright		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Ezralow	....	co-producer (as Marc Ezralow)
Samuel Hadida	....	co-producer
Dan Halsted	....	executive producer
Chris Hanley	....	producer
Adam Merims	....	co-producer (as Adam J. Merims)
Richard Rutowski	....	executive producer
Oliver Stone	....	executive producer
Brad Wyman	....	producer

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
John Thomas		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Maysie Hoy

Casting by
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Pamela B. Warner		(as Pam Warner)

Set Decoration by
Caitlin Blue

Costume Design by
Merrie Lawson

Makeup Department
Brad Boles	....	makeup artist: Reese Witherspoon
John Carl Buechler	....	special makeup effects
John Foster	....	special makeup effects
Elisabeth Fry	....	key hair stylist
Elisabeth Fry	....	key makeup artist
Alberto Machuca	....	assistant makeup artist
David Barrett	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Frank Hildebrand	....	unit production manager
Linda Pallin	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Athena Alexander	....	second assistant director
Timothy Bird	....	first assistant director (as T. Bird)
Chad Rosen	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Wendy L. Backs	....	art department intern
Barbara Benz	....	prop master
Jacqui Cohen	....	prop intern
Beth Emerson	....	leadperson: set dressing
Crystal Foth	....	swing gang (as Crystal M. Foth)
Andy Friend	....	storyboard artist
Rebecca Hammett	....	key scenic artist
James Jewett	....	swing gang
James Kroning	....	prop assistant
Joubin Mortazavi	....	on-set dresser
Ramin Mortazavi	....	on-set dresser
Scott Stockus	....	prop assistant (as Scott Stuckus)
Heli Syrjanen	....	art department intern
Rudy Balli	....	assistant key scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bryan Arenas	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Eric Behrend	....	dialogue pre-mixer
Dickran Bezirgenian	....	adr recordist
Arman Boyles	....	foley recordist
Dorian Cheah	....	dialogue editor
Dee Dee Davis	....	sound account executive
Al Decker	....	adr supervisor
Tim Drury	....	boom operator
Nancy Eytcheson	....	audio post coordinator
Stephen Fitzmaurice	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Leigh French	....	adr coordinator
Don Gooch	....	sound effects editor
Paul Holzborn	....	foley artist
Kurt Kassulke	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Linden	....	adr supervisor
John Post	....	foley artist
Paul Ratajczak	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Ratajczak	....	sound supervisor
Eddie Rogers	....	assistant dialogue editor
Dennis Sager	....	director of engineering
Steven J. Venezia	....	consultant: Dolby (as Steven J. Venezla)
Ed White	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Vincent Montefusco	....	special effects coordinator (as Vince Montefusco)
Beecher Tomlinson	....	special effects foreman

Stunts
Troy Gilbert	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Harper	....	stunt player
Jill Stokesberry	....	stunt player
Nancy Thurston	....	stunt player
Jill Stokesberry	....	stunt double: Alana Ubach (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Laurent Basset	....	camera operator: documentary segment
Phil Cohen	....	first assistant camera
Nelson Elwell	....	dolly grip
Ali Farboud	....	gaffer
Jenifer Galvez	....	electrician
Nicola Goode	....	additional still photographer
Ronnie Gotch	....	electrician
Kelly Jones	....	grip
Philip Jordan	....	electrician (as Phillip C. Jordan)
Victor Macias	....	grip
John Joseph Minardi	....	key grip (as John Minardi)
Keith Morgan	....	best boy electric
Robert Nichols	....	camera associate
Christopher Patak	....	second assistant camera
Alan M. Rowe	....	electrician
Don Spiro	....	electrician
Justin Webber	....	camera loader
David Grant Wright	....	grip (as David Wright)
Lesa-Ann Wyman	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Annette Benson	....	additional casting
Jeremy Kinser	....	additional casting
Alyssa Weisberg	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrea Burrows	....	costumer
Tricia Cruikshank	....	costumer
Nadine Haders	....	costume supervisor
Sarit	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Linda DeMarco	....	color timer (as Linda Altman)
Teresa Garber	....	post-production coordinator (as Teresa Cintron)
Melissa Gearhart	....	assistant editor
Vanessa Hayes	....	post-production executive
Lisa Jacobs	....	post-production assistant
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Jud Pratt	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Mark Boccaccio	....	music editor
Gerry Gershman	....	music supervisor
Bruce Greenspan	....	music editor
Captain Groundhog	....	score engineer: Tito Larriva's score
Bill Jackson	....	score engineer: Danny Elfman's score
Tito Larriva	....	composer: additional music
Charlie Midnight	....	score producer: Tito Larriva's score
Spencer Proffer	....	music consultant
Amy Rosen	....	music coordinator
Tito & Tarantula	....	score performer: Tito Larriva's score (as Tarantula)

Transportation Department
Hedy Phil Balani	....	driver: production van (as Hedy P. Balani)
Mike Barattini	....	driver: honeywagon (as Michael Anthony Barattini)
Mitchell Bergman	....	transportation coordinator
Jeff Freitas	....	driver
Aaron H.R. Hassman	....	driver (as Aaron Hassman)
Chris Mendoza	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Raphael Zeno Beck	....	assistant: Richard Rutowski
Deena Berezin	....	office production assistant
Scott Braddock	....	assistant: Brad Wyman
Paul Candice	....	craft service
Mindy Cole	....	assistant: Dan Halsted
Karin Elsener	....	illustrator: main titles
Jean-Yves Fillion	....	production financing
Stephen Fishman	....	office production assistant
Monica Foster	....	assistant: Kiefer Sutherland
Danielle Frankl	....	assistant to accountant (as Danielle Alon)
Isobel Gardner	....	misc crew
Carol Gronner	....	set production assistant (as Carol J. Gronner)
Mark Habegger	....	key set production assistant
Samuel Hadida	....	presenter
Julie Hannum	....	location manager
Douglas Hansen	....	production financing
Aaron H.R. Hassman	....	studio teacher (as Aaron Hassman)
Steven F. Hasson	....	additional locations (as Steve Hasson)
Gabriel Hernandez	....	caterer
Oliver Hooper	....	stand-in: Kiefer Sutherland
Tim Hughes	....	medic (as Tim Hughs)
Eddie Kish	....	assistant: Oliver Stone
Ramsey Malouky	....	electronic press kit producer
Theresa Marth	....	production coordinator
Michael Mendelsohn	....	production financing
Stevie Nelson	....	additional locations
Ragna Nervik	....	assistant: Matthew Bright
Michael Noonan	....	office production assistant
Courtney Pakiz	....	stand-in: Reese Witherspoon (as Courtney Pakis)
Dan Perri	....	title designer: main title sequence
Timothy Wayne Peternel	....	assistant: Chris Hanley (as Tim Peternel)
James Radshaw	....	set production assistant
Alicia Rivera Frankl	....	production accountant (as Alicia Frankl)
Alicia Rivera Frankl	....	production accountant
Jeff Rubinstein	....	location manager
Keenan Rutowski	....	set production assistant
J.S. Shoe	....	script supervisor
Pilo Silva	....	caterer (as Philo Silba)
Nick Steenolsen	....	set production assistant
Peter Stevens	....	location assistant
Annie Tien	....	assistant: Oliver Stone (as Annie Mei-Ling Tein)
Jennifer Wittlinger	....	assistant production coordinator
Enid Zentelis	....	office production assistant
Michael Haddad	....	craft service (uncredited)
Azita Zendel	....	assistant: Oliver Stone (uncredited)

Thanks
David Andriole	....	special thanks
Carol Sue Baker	....	special thanks
Spencer Baumgarten	....	special thanks
Max Bright	....	special thanks
Julie Christensen	....	special thanks
Richard Elfman	....	special thanks (as Rick Elfman)
Laura Engel	....	special thanks
Jay Faires	....	special thanks
James Feeney	....	special thanks
Wayne L. Greene	....	special thanks
Vanessa Hayes	....	special thanks
Diana Hellyer	....	special thanks
David Hirshland	....	special thanks
Jerry Horan	....	special thanks
Brian Kibbie	....	special thanks
Jeffrey Kimball	....	special thanks
Michael Klein	....	special thanks
Bob Knight	....	special thanks
Blair Kohan	....	special thanks (as Blair Belcher)
Richard Kraft	....	special thanks
Jonathan Krauss	....	special thanks (as Jon Krauss)
Bill Lazerus	....	special thanks
Pat Lucas	....	special thanks
J. Michael Marlett	....	special thanks
Michael T. Marlett	....	special thanks
William H.D. Marlett	....	special thanks (as Willie Marlett)
Meredith Marshall	....	special thanks
Michael Mavrolas	....	special thanks
Roger Mayer	....	special thanks
Jonathan McHugh	....	special thanks
Dave McNeill	....	special thanks
Stefanie Naifeh	....	special thanks
Tom Osborne	....	special thanks
Walter Partos	....	special thanks
Alicia Rose	....	special thanks (as Alicia J. Rose)
Reid Shane	....	special thanks
Jay Sherman-Godfrey	....	special thanks
Jeremy Tepper	....	special thanks (as Jermey Tepper)
Ben Vaughn	....	special thanks
Marty Wereski	....	special thanks
Kerri Wilson	....	special thanks
Gus Wyman	....	special thanks
Robert A. Wyman	....	special thanks
Spantaneeus Xtasy	....	special thanks (as Sharon Johnson)
Laura Young	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Kushner-Locke Company, The (presents) (as Kushner-Locke)
• August Entertainment (in association with)
• Davis-Films (in association with) (as Davis Film)
• Illusion Entertainment Group (producer)
• Muse Productions (producer)

Distributors

• Alliance Video (1997) (Canada) (DVD)
• Alpha Filmes (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Aquarius TV (2001) (Greece) (TV)
• Aquarius TV (2005) (Greece) (DVD)
• Arcade Movie Company (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Arcade Movie Company (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (Australia) (VHS)
• Filmax (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Malofilm Distribution (1996) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (1997) (France) (theatrical)
• Nirvana Films S.A. (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Roxie Releasing (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• The Globe Film Company (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Creative Axa Co. Ltd. (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Dayton Way Pictures Iii
• Divisa Home Video (2012) (Spain) (DVD)
• Geneon Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MCP Sound & Media AG (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Phoenicia Pictures (2010) (Non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Toho Video (2004) (Japan) (DVD)
• Videosonic Arts (1997) (Greece) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Magical Media Industries (special make-up effects)

Other Companies

• Banque Paribas, Los Angeles Agency  production financing provided by
• Cable News Network (CNN)  pre-recorded videotape supplied by (as CNN © Cable News Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
• Chapman Equipment  camera cranes and dollies by (as Chapman)
• Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company  published by ("My Dog's Better Than Your Dog") (as Cherry Lane Music)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  dailies
• Discos Dos Coronas  special thanks to
• E=mc²  24 Frame Playback
• Eastman Film  raw stock (as Eastman)
• Film Finances  completion bond services (as Film Finances)
• Ground Control Studios  post-production sound services
• Heinz Pet Products  courtesy of (Ken-L Ration Dog and Puppy Food commercial) (an affiliate of H. J. Heinz Company)
• Hollywood Rental Company  grip & lighting equipment (as Hollywood Rental)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  end credits and opticals (as Howard Anderson Co.)
• Kodak  produced on (as Kodak Motion Picture Film)
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting (as Magic Film & Video Works)
• Magic Film and Video Works  post-production video facility (as Magic Film & Video Works)
• Mario's Catering  catering
• Nightrain Productions  special thanks to
• Panavision  filmed with (as Panavision® Camera & Lenses)
• Shadow Pictures  video segments
• Sunset Sound Studios  recorded at: Danny Elfman's score (as Sunset Sound)
• THX Sound System Theatre  mixed and recorded in a
• Turner Entertainment  provided by (clip from "Little Red Walking Hood") (as Turner Entertainment Company)
• Wyman, Isaacs, Blumenthal & Lynne  legal services provided by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong lurid violence and sexual dialogue, some sexual situations, drug content and language (edited for re-rating)

Runtime:

110 min | Australia:97 min | France:102 min | USA:102 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (No. 34357) (edited for re-rating) | New Zealand:R18 | Netherlands:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Brazil:18 | Spain:18 | Mexico:B | Italy:VM14 | Canada:16+ (Québec) | Australia:Refused Classification (original rating) | Australia:R (edited for re-rating) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | France:-16 | Germany:16 | South Korea:18 | UK:18 (video premiere) | USA:NC-17 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Kushner-Locke Company, The

Trivia:

Originally rated NC-17, reduced to R after the removal of some explicit dialogue.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Vanessa shoots Bob, after he escapes from the vehicle, the first bullet misses (hits the ground). Then two shots hit him, but if you notice the right side of his blazer, a third shot hits him but there's no sound.

Quotes:

Vanessa:He had this disease, called, um, Wisenheimers, I think. You know, where your brain cells run out into your pee.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Welcome to Hollywood (1998)

Soundtrack:

MURGATROID WALTZ IN G

That's not all I did to grandma.

While watching this film I was disgusted, disturbed, and horrified while all the while LOVING THIS FILM. Living in a house where fairy tale literature is commonplace (my wife studies Children's Literature), I was surprised by this film. Seeing it in the value bin at most video stores, I expected poor production, horrible direction, and a pathetic cast. We have all seen these films that boast big names, but somehow never fully follow through. Freeway is nothing of the kind. It is a carefully written and delivered retelling of one of our most beloved fairy tales with a extremely dark twist.

Reece Witherspoon (pre-Legally Blonde) gives a performance that surprised me. I did not realize that she was so capable of bringing this character to life. Her counterpart, the illustrious 'Wolf', played by 80s child Keifer Sutherland, is yet another powerful force in this film. The two of them nearly carry this film on their shoulders. This is one of those perfect examples of a film that did not have much publicity after its release, but has since then obtained 'cult' status through avid viewer's word of mouth. This is definitely a film for all movie critics, film buffs, and fanatics to gaze at just once. I know there were some poor reviews when it was first released, but I am sure that a second viewing would bring this gem back to life.

I would also like to add that director Matthew Bright is a film genius. He successfully took a very wholesome and good natured story (or that we think) and transforms it into the fearsome dark story that it should be. Our society has the consistency of taking dark elements and transforming them into stories for our children. A wolf eats a grandmother in this story … how happy and uplifting is that? I applaud Bright for taking this story and transforming it into a modern day fairy tale. It is gripping, fascinating, and downright beautiful.

If you enjoyed Natural Born Killers and was hoping for a nicer twist, this film is your answer. I also suggest that if you couldn't get enough of Freeway that you try to get your hands on the very rare Freeway 2: Confessions of a Trickbaby. See how Bright delicately transforms yet another dark fairy tale (Hansel and Gretel) into a modern masterpiece.

Grade: ***** out of *****