A sub-genre of movies I happen to love is the “road movie” genre. I love this particular type of movie because it seems to be different in every genre it’s portrayed in.
In dramas, road movies usually consist of the main character going through a journey of self-discovery. In comedies, road movies are usually about a couple of buddies going on an adventure that leads them on a wacky and fun filled adventure, but in the horror genre, it’s a whole different story.
A horror road movie may start out like a typical road movie, but the movie usually soon takes a turn for the worse and most likely consists of a single or group of characters that must fend themselves off from a psycho on the road. (Finding their true selves or having the best road trip of their lives are the last f*cking things on these characters’ minds by this point.) Here is my list of horror road movies that have made me want to take a train or a plane for whenever I have to travel to a far destination.
1. Duel
Sure this movie was made for TV, but it had two great things about it. One, it was directed by then unknown filmmaker, Stephen Spielberg. Two, it was the catalyst to the road horror movie genre in the first place. This nearly dialogue-free, cat and mouse road thriller may not scare you now, but I do think it has inspired many horror writers and directors to this very day.
2. The Hitcher
This movie to this very day creeps me out. Watching Rutger Hauer stalk, torture, and terrorize C. Thomas Howell’s character gave me plenty of nightmares when I was little. Kids are usually scared of the boogeyman or monsters in their closet. When I was a kid, I was scared John Ryder was going to pop out of my closet and give me his psycho grin. This is such a great horror/suspense flick and I only hope the upcoming remake does it justice.
3. Near Dark
1987 was the year for bad ass vampires. Unfortunately, Near Dark didn’t get much love during its theatrical run, because The Lost Boys had come out around the same time. Although, it didn’t matter because this movie about a bloodthirsty gang developed a huge cult following shortly after. I enjoyed this vampire western because it had a clever and unique take on the vampire genre. (Ironically enough, I don’t even think the term ‘vampires’ was ever used to describe the gang in the movie.)
4. Wolf Creek
What made this road movie so terrifying was the fact that it was based on actual events. Watching these types of movies, you would like to think that these scenarios couldn’t happen in real life. Surely, there would be some other people driving on their road, or your cell phone would be working and you could call for help. This movie brought attention to the fact that these horrifying situations can happen. All you have to do is be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I won’t ruin this movie for those who haven’t seen it yet. It’s still somewhat new. (But don’t watch it alone!)
5. Natural Born Killers
I know I just mentioned this movie in my previous top ten list, (Top ten Lady-killers) but if I didn’t mention it again this week for road horror movies, a bunch of you would have been using the Spitting Bullets section to tear me a new a*shole. This is most likely the most notorious road movie on the list, because it offended and freaked out a lot of people. Seeing Mickey and Mallory (Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis) killing tons of people on their gruesome and murderous road trip was quite disturbing. (Especially with how Oliver Stone directed it.)
6. Kalifornia
This movie has a bit of a cult following, although mention this movie to most people around my age, and they probably won’t know what you’re talking about. (Unless they’re extreme movie nerds) I found this sad fact out, when I asked a lot of my friends if they’ve ever seen the movie where Brad Pitt played a disturbed and merciless serial killer. Most of them looked at me with blank looks in their eyes. This movie starts off at a slow pace, but immediately picks up with some frightening turns and gruesome kills by (then) “B star” Mr. Pitt.
7. Maximum Overdrive
When someone mentions the Green Goblin, I don’t think of the villain from the Spiderman comics, I think of the possessed truck chasing Emilio Estevez. (Sad, I know.) This movie was nominated for quite a few razzies, and is considered to be one of Stephen King’s worst film adaptations, but I don’t care. It still scared me as a child. Seeing that kid getting rolled over by a steamroller scared the f*ck out of me when I was little. (Never had I been so freaked out by a death since the kid getting eaten by a shark in Jaws.) Sure it’s bad, but it’s not as bad as that god-awful Wicker Man remake. (Which in my opinion, is the Gigli of Horror films.)
8. Jeepers Creepers
This movie to me felt like two different horror movies put together. The first (and superior) half was a beyond creepy road movie, and the second half was a poorly executed creature feature. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this movie.
Although, if the second half of this movie kept the same strong elements as the first half, I think audiences would have liked it more. Seeing Darry and Trish getting stalked by The Creeper throughout the movie gave me chills up my spine, and with the exceptions of the stupid psychic subplot and The Creeper ending up being some gargoyle-like monster, the movie was a great addition to the road horror genre.
9. Joyride
Before his surprisingly well done performance in this year’s Running Scared, I would usually only watch movies with Paul Walker in them simply for eye candy. Although, Joy Ride was an exception. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat and biting my nails in theatres wondering how the psychotic trucker, Rusty Nails was going to take out his revenge on the two brothers that played the mean joke on him.
(Thankfully I wasn’t the only dramatic loser in theatres who was reacting that way.) This thriller also has an awesome special edition DVD with 4 alternate endings. (*One ending is a half an hour long and changes the entire outcome of the movie.) Pick it up if you haven’t already.
10. Freeway
Reese Witherspoon may have won an Oscar for her performance in Walk The Line, but I will always think her portrayal as Vanessa Lutz, (the trailer trash and tough as nails girl who kicks Kiefer Sutherland’s ass) is her best performance. This “Little Red Riding Hood” meets “The Hitcher” road flick was unique, frightening at parts, full of dark humor and extremely underrated. I recommend this movie as a must-see for fans of the road genre.
