Joy Ride (2001/I)

Director:

John Dahl

Writers (WGA):

Clay Tarver (written by) &
J.J. Abrams (written by)

Release Date:

5 October 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Don't screw with people you don't know (UK)

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Truck | Truck Driver | College | College Student | Prank

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Road Kill (Australia) (New Zealand: English title) (UK)
Candy Cane (USA) (working title)
Highway Horror (USA) (working title)
Joyride (USA) (alternative spelling)
Squelch (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/terror and language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | USA:R (certificate #37763) | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hungary:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Arvin, California, USA

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

During the course of the movie, watch the LED signal strength indicator lights on the brothers' CB radio. The first four indicator lights change colors in nearly every scene, including bright green, dark green, yellow, red, and crimson. This is obviously intentional and not a series of continuity errors.

Goofs:

Continuity: Because of re-shoots, the dates are inconsistent. The insert of Lewis's plane ticket shows he purchased it 12 DEC 99 for a 12 APR (2000) flight, yet when Fuller signs for the release of his effects, he has dated the form "6-6-99".

Quotes:

Venna: How afraid should I be?
Fuller: More than usual.

Movie Connections:

References The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Soundtrack:

Weightless

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.