Road Kill (2001)
"Joy Ride" (original title)

Three young people on a road trip from Colorado to New Jersey talk to a trucker on their CB radio, then must escape when he turns out to be a psychotic killer.

Director:

John Dahl

Writers:

Clay Tarver, J.J. Abrams

Stars:

Steve Zahn, Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Zahn	...	Fuller Thomas
Paul Walker	...	Lewis Thomas
Leelee Sobieski	...	Venna
Jessica Bowman	...	Charlotte
Stuart Stone	...	Danny, Lewis' Roommate
Basil Wallace	...	Car Salesman
Brian Leckner	...	Officer Keeney
Mary Wickliffe	...	Salt Lake City Police Desk Clerk
McKenzie Satterthwaite	...	Assistant Salt Lake City Police Desk Clerk
Dell Yount	...	Gas Station Mechanic
Kenneth White	...	Ronald Ellinghouse
Luis Cortés	...	Night Manager (as Luis Cortes)
Michael McCleery	...	Officer Akins
Jim Beaver	...	Sheriff Ritter
Rachel Singer	...	Gas Station Manager

Storyline

College student Lewis decides to drive across the country to see Venna, a friend who doesn't know that Lewis is interested in her romantically. Unfortunately for his plans, Lewis gets saddled with his raucous-spirited older brother, Fuller, whose on-the-road pranks get the brothers and Venna sucked into a nightmare when a psychotic truckdriver takes offense.

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Plot Keywords:

college | truck driver | truck | prank | jail | 

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Taglines:

This fall, everything you say will come back to haunt you. Everything you see will terrify you. And everything you hear will drive you over the edge.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/terror and language

Details

Official Sites:

20th Century Fox [uk] Fox / Regency Pictures [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Candy Cane

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,138,429 (UK) (26 April 2002)

Gross:

£2,215,996 (UK) (24 May 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Regency Enterprises, Epsilon Motion Pictures, New Regency Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leelee Sobieski ended up filming two different romantic interludes, one with Steve Zahn and one with Paul Walker during the shooting and re-shooting of the film. Both scenes ended up getting cut.

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Goofs

Lewis had just recently purchased his Newport and immediately set out on his road trip to pick up Venna. He should have had a temporary plate or sticker to indicate the car was recently purchased and was waiting for his plates to arrive, which typically takes two weeks. Yet in several scenes, the cars permanent plates are visible.

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Quotes

Fuller: [talking into the CB radio] Howdy, you got Black Sheep here with Mama's Boy. Who we got? over.
Lewis: Can I please get a better handle than Mama's Boy?
Fuller: No.

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Connections

References Kojak (1973)

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Soundtracks

"If You're Gonna Leave Me"
Written and Performed by John Bohlinger

User Reviews

Sometimes, the Earth changes directions and I like a film such as this

This turned out to be one the few movies I liked that was geared toward a teen audience. Steve Zahn and Paul Walker weren't natural in the roles as brothers, which embodied the very nature of their relationship. While the story became rather convoluted near the end, Rusty Nail's voice and detached presence brought some actual fear to the heart of the viewer. While the sound editing made this film, the relatively simple yet complex plot really turned this film into a satisfying movie experience.