Rollercoaster (1999)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Scott Smith

Writer:

Scott Smith (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A film about a choice - between a life holding on, or a death letting go.

Plot:

In pursuit of fantasy, five teenagers hop the fence of a now defunct amusement park. While apparently a mindless diversion, for two of them the park is the setting for a more fatal bid at escape.

Plot Keywords:

Amusement Park | Girlfriend | Security Guard | Vancouver British Columbia | Teenage Runaway

Awards:

7 wins

Cast

Brendan Fletcher	...	Stick
Kett Turton	...	Darrin
Crystal Buble	...	Chloe (as Crystal Bublé)
Brent Glenen	...	Justin
Sean Amsing	...	Sanj
David Lovgren	...	Ben

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexual content, drug use/drinking, all involving teens.

Runtime:

90 min | USA:88 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

British Columbia Film Commission

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the very beginning, in the left hand corner, you can see the director's head and camera box.

Quotes:

Darrin: I use to have one of those things, but it caught virtual rabies and I had to shoot it in the head.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004) (TV)

"I hate you Darrin"

I'm a sucker for indie flicks and same person writer/director movies. There's less off the Hollywood tampering and making things "Good for the general public" and more heart and reality. Rollercoaster is pure heart - disturbed, angsty, and mildly depressing heart, but pure nonetheless.

MOST people aren't going to like this, aren't going to understand it, and aren't going to be able to grasp such a non-linear format. Some of those "most" won't be able to admit that this could very well be reality, because it doesn't fit into the wonderbubble that is their lives. I'm not most people, I loved it.

The cinematography was beautiful, editing - brilliant, characters (aside from Sanj, admittedly) were exceptionally well developed. I knew those kids growing up.

Brendan Fletcher, though obnoxious in the beginning (his character calls for it, he was playing it well) throws out one of the most heartwrenching lines of the movie with such simple depth and emotion that it gives you chills.

Kett Turton deserves just as much praise playing the one hiding the most from the world. You can see it on his face, but you can't. He's a million people in one, putting on masks to please the people around him, when he's the one that's the most in pain.

It's not for everyone, and it doesn't end the way you want it to. This movie isn't handed to you on a silver platter like most Hollywood flicks - you're given a spork, and some salad tongs, and you have to use your brain to figure out how to cut the prime rib into bite sized edible pieces. But if you're like me, you like a challenge in a good movie.