Human Highway (1982)

The new owner of a roadside diner stuck in a town built around an always leaking nuclear power plant plans to torch the place to collect insurance. However, an assortment of bizare ... See full summary »

Directors:

Dean Stockwell, Neil Young (as Bernard Shakey)

Writers:

Neil Young (screenplay) (as Bernard Shakey), Jeanne Field (screenplay)

Stars:

Neil Young, Russ Tamblyn, Dean Stockwell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Neil Young	...	Lionel Switch / Frankie Fontaine
Russ Tamblyn	...	Fred Kelly
Dean Stockwell	...	Otto Quartz
Dennis Hopper	...	Cracker / Stranger
Charlotte Stewart	...	Charlotte Goodnight
Sally Kirkland	...	Kathryn
Geraldine Baron	...	Irene
Gerald Casale	...	Nuclear Garbageperson (as Jerry Casale)
Mark Mothersbaugh	...	Nuclear Garbageperson / Booji Boy
Bob Casale	...	Nuclear Garbageperson
Robert Mothersbaugh	...	Nuclear Garbageperson (as Bob Mothersbaugh)
Alan Myers	...	Nuclear Garbageperson
Pegi Young	...	Biker Girl
Mickey Fox	...	Mrs. Robinson
Danny Tucker	...	Arthur

Storyline

The new owner of a roadside diner stuck in a town built around an always leaking nuclear power plant plans to torch the place to collect insurance. However, an assortment of bizare characters and weird events (such as spaceships flying around) gets in his way.

---

Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | post apocalypse | two word title | written and directed by cast member | surrealism | 

---

Taglines:

When love and fate collide

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

Three of the leads of this film went on to work with director David Lynch in the following decade. Dean Stockwell appeared in Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986), the latter of which also starred Dennis Hopper. Russ Tamblyn appeared on Twin Peaks (1990).

---

Quotes

[repeated line]
Lionel Switch: I can do that!

---

Crazy Credits

Watch for Human Highway III

---

Alternate Versions

In 2015 a Director's Cut was released to film festivals around the world. This new cut was re-edited from digital transfers of the original negatives. It features new footage, special effects, audio and other narrative devices.

---

Connections

Referenced in Best Worst Movie (2009)

User Reviews

Makes the Three Stooges look kinda like a Norman Rockwell painting.

One of the most unusual movies I have ever seen. Makes the three stooges look like total normalcy. Neil Young and the Devo members are in this a lot. This is a musical comedy, but not like one you have ever seen. Imagine an apocalyptic LSD trip after OD-ing on candycane and reading a playboy. No, that's not it either. Well, this is totally indescribable, but I will try. Imagine an alternate history where sometime in the 1960s or 70s, the world has gone gung-ho full blown nuclear everything. Kind of like Iran wants to be now. Just imagine the whole world like that- especially the USA. Most of the action or story takes place in a small combination gas station-diner. Yes, combination gas-station diner. Dean Stockwell is the owner. He is the straight man in the film, and is a hoot. Dennis Hopper plays two or three different characters. But the main focus is on Neil Young as a goofy, not too bright, very incompetent auto-mechanic. Yes, I forgot to mention there is a car repair garage at this combination gas station-diner. Walk inside the diner, and it looks bigger on the inside- like a full blown regular diner with sexy waitresses and a grumpy but amenable cook (Dennis Hopper) and all the usual eclectic customers. The band Devo works and plays music at the local Nuclear Power Plant down the street from the diner-gas station-garage. They wear day-glow radiation orange work clothes and strange looking nose tubes instead of masks. They play guitars with thick rubber gloves. OK-well that's enough description for now. Please-please if you do not have a very strange sense of humor, do not watch this movie. For some strange reasons I can hardly fathom (not), this film has not been available except on a rare laserdisc or OOP VHS not usually seen around much. However, this can be found in DVD form if you search hard enough on the internet.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Human Highway

Filming Locations:

Raleigh Studios - 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shakey Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 80 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1