Road Games

I first saw "Road Games" in the theater during its initial release; a friend and I had bought tickets to "Caveman", but despite the presence of Ringo Starr, it was so boring we left halfway through. We wandered in to the theater next door and caught the balance of "Road Games" beginning with the hallucination of the eyes in the back of the van. We both enjoyed the film, but I never saw the rest of it until I found it decades later on DVD: it was worth the wait. This is one of the few DVDs I would never part with. I am not a fan of slasher movies, but do like psychological thrillers. Despite the US marketing playing on Jamie Lee Curtis' fame as a horror queen at the time, this is not a slasher movie, but is an homage to Hitchcock on the Australian Outback. Stacy Keach as Pat Quid, an American who drives trucks in Australia (Keach actually learned to drive the truck for the shoot, by the way) steals the show. This was just before his Mike Hammer days, and his classical training in Shakespearian drama aids his array of emotions as he tracks a mysterious killer across Australia. To allow dialogue Keach is paired up with his buddy, Boswell, a dingo (actually an Australian Red dog, which is part dingo) to great effect. The film jumps from light (Keach playing classical music on the harmonica) to the macabre (what is the man in the green van doing and what is in his lunch pail?) Jamie Lee Curtis stars as "Hitch" is a relatively small role; the dynamics between Keach and Curtis worked beautifully, and quantifiably added to the tension in the film. As Keach hauls a load of refrigerated hog carcasses to Perth, he crosses paths with numerous other motorists multiple times to great effect, but it's clear early on that his primary nemesis is the lunatic in the green van who opens the movie with a clever garroting of a young girl with a guitar string. Dialogue from Everett De Roche is sharp ("Why does anybody get up at five in the morning to watch the garbage collectors?") Fortunately Keach is up to the challenge of sometimes complicated and long passages of dialogue ("'Quid'...'Q' as in 'Quartermaster', 'U' as in 'Utopia', 'I' as in 'Ice Cream', and 'D' as in 'Death of a young girl, you cretin!'") Interspersed with the serious plotline of tracking the killer and Quid himself being effectively framed for the murder in a very clever way, there are moments of comic relief involving the other highway motorists, most comically "Captain Careful" who is towing his boat, the "Lady Luck II", on a trailer. It turns out you can drive a semi straight through a boat to great comedic effect. After picking up Hitch (Curtis), they banter about the psychological makeup of the killer and ultimately make a pit stop at a dingy roadside gas station where while dealing with another often-encountered character, "Sneezy Rider", Hitch is kidnapped by the lunatic in the green van while trying to see if the murdered girl's remains are inside. As Keach debates about how the back door to the trailer got opened and why are there 352 pig carcasses versus the pre-departure 350 that were counted, he closes in on the van in a chase scene that gets slower and slower and more and more claustrophobic. Even though it was heavily cut due to time pressures, it is one of director Richard Franklin's true masterstrokes, concluding in a dramatic way where Boswell saves the day by revealing himself to be a dog and not a dingo much to Keach's surprise as he barks to signal the final reveal of the plot in a brilliant conclusion, as dingos can't bark. The film has an added stinger at the very end that Franklin didn't want to do but the producers insisted on to be able to market it more as horror than as suspense. I won't spoil it, but it is the one part of the film I am not totally enthralled with. The DVD comes with loads of worthwhile extras, starting with a great "making of' documentary, "Kangaroo Hitchcock: The Making of 'Road Games'" which features interviews with Franklin and Keach and discusses the project at length. Originally the part of Quid was written for Sean Connery, but unfortunately his salary was greater than the entire $8,000,000 budget of the film (which was the biggest budget Australian film to date) but fortunately they ended up with Keach, who I think was born for the role (and who clearly loved it). Franklin is a great director and explains a lot of directorial choices in a very interesting way; the original storyboards are wonderful. The best extra on the DVD is a commentary track with Franklin and Anchor Bay DVD producer Perry Martin. Simply put, it's one of the best commentary tracks I have ever seen. I was interested that Franklin frequently referred to Keach as the most intellectual actor he worked with (which is why, I suppose, Quid gets away quoting "The Canterbury Tales" and the like); the backstory concerning the union issues involved with this picture were also interesting, though from a more logistical standpoint. There are also a ton of posters, stills, original storyboards, and the screenplay on DVD-ROM included, and all of those are recommended. One final extra are the incredibly detailed star and director biographies: Keach is, in particular, a fascinating person. "Road Games" may be a challenge to find, but it really is worth it. It does everything a great suspense thriller should do: it gives clues and sets up situations to maximize tension and builds to a fantastic final reveal which rewards the viewer like few other films in the genre. It is definitely underappreciated, and Richard Franklin and Stacy Keach made what was a good thriller truly great. I love this movie.

Very good movie

You know, the phrase `this movie will have you sitting on the edge of your seat' gets thrown around a lot to the point of being cliché, but it really does seem to apply to this movie. Not in the literal sense, mind you, as I was lying down when I saw it, but figuratively speaking, that is, unless you are prone to sitting on the edge of your seat anyway in which case forget what I just said and move on. (seems like a dumb place to sit anyway...I mean, aren't you just asking for trouble?) Road Games, released in 1981 and directed by Australian born director Franklin Richards and starring Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis, is an excellent little movie I had heard absolutely nothing about until it was recommended to me on this website. The story follows an American truck driver working in Australia, hire to drive a load of slaughtered hogs from Melbourne to Perth across a desolate stretch of highway. Stacy Keach plays Quid, an intelligent, self-educated man who is keenly observant of his surroundings, trading quips with his companion, a pet dingo that travels with Quid in his cab. Seems there's a serial killer stalking female victims, and Quid begins to suspect a green van he's seen on the roadways. Soon Quid picks up Hitch (Jamie Lee Curtis), and things begin to unravel at an alarming pace. Quid quickly finds himself a suspect, set up by the real killer, in the spate of grisly murders, and must not only clear his name, but also save his own life, as the mysterious stranger in the green van soon goes from being pursued to being the pursuer with the backdrop being some really beautiful wide-open Australian scenery. Think this sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock movie? Well, that's exactly what the director was going for and he achieved his goal very nicely. He manages to build the suspense and maintain it throughout the movie, driving it to one of the more exciting conclusions within a film I've seen in a long time. Another nice touch is the way he directly avoids showing the violently visceral aspects of the killer's crimes, only alluding to them. There are many wonderfully, slyly humorous moments littered throughout the film as the director gradually tightens the screws on the viewers. I found the scene with Quid and Hitch at the rest stop/gas station especially grueling. Along with a beautiful, wide screen presentation, Anchor Bay provides a number of interesting features including an audio commentary by producer/director Richard Franklin, a 20 minute featurette with the director and actor Stacy Keach, a trailer, talent bios, original storyboards, a poster and still gallery, a wonderful five page insert on the movie, and even the original screenplay available on DVD-ROM. If you enjoy thoughtful, well-directed thrillers chocked full of suspense and a minimal amount of violence, then see this movie. It'll be worth your time. If you like this one, I might suggest Duel (1971), Breakdown (1997), or Joyride (2001). Cookieman108

I caught this movie on TV many years ago & thought it was terrific, due largely to a great performance by Stacy Keach as eccentric yet likable "truck driver" Quid ("Just because I happen to drive a truck, that does not make me a TRUCK DRIVER"). His rambling monologues, musings, and witty observations about his fellow motorists add humor, and the chemistry between him and Jamie Lee Curtis seems genuine and not at all forced. Curtis is equally charming (not to mention absolutely stunning), so much so that you wish she had more screen time. The plot is pure Hitchcock as Quid suspects the mysterious driver of a green van to be the culprit behind a string of Jack-the-Ripper-style killings along the highways and byways of Australia. Unfortunately, the more Quid tries to untangle the mystery, the more entangled he becomes as other motorists, and eventually the police, begin suspecting HIM of being killer. This is low-budget suspense at it's very best, and I'm so glad it made the technological jump onto DVD (it even comes with a 6-page booklet containing a mini-essay from someone who seems to think just as highly of this movie as I do). Highly recommended!!! Buy it along with Duel and Rear Window. You won't regret it.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD MOVIE,THE ACTORS DID GOOD AND THE LOCATION IS PERFECT. THE MOVIE IS ABOUT A SERIAL KILLER, AND THE TRUCK DRIVER (STACY KEACH) GETS INVOLVED BY ACCIDENT. LATER ON HE PICKS UP A HITCHIKER (JAMIE LEE CURTIS), AND THINGS GO WRONG. THE MOVIE TAKES PLACE IN AUSTRALIA (BEST LOCATION FOR THE MOVIE), AND WE DO SEE SOME BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE LOCALS WERE NOT TO HAPPY HAVING TWO AMERICANS STARING, BUT THINGS DO WORK OUT. THIS MOVIE HAS ACTION COMEDY, SUSPENCE,BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS, AND A GREAT SOUND TRACT. IT'S A MUST TO HAVE IN YOUR COLLECTION, YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY, AND YOU WILL WATCH THIS MOVIE QUITE A FEW TIMES. THIS WAS DONE VERY WELL, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE DIRECTOR AND LOCAL WORKERS ON A JOB WELL DONE.

I love Jamie Leigh Curtis so I bought this. I watched it when I received it and it is not a very good movie, in my opinion. If you love this movie make sure you have a region free player if you live in the United States

wont play in my dvd player

I saw this movie on TV years ago, and it is one of those movies that sticks with you. Stacey Keach is outstanding and very believable, as his character takes you on this journey. Sometimes funny, sometimes scary, sometimes claustrophobic. Jamie Lee Curtis shows up as a hitch hiker, making the movie even more mysterious. Even at the end of the movie you will wonder, who was really the bad guy..... It is a good mystery movie.

oui pas de VF sur ce dvd et blu-ray contrairement à ce qu'indique l'annonce,merci canal,oui sur la VHS de embassy il y avait bien une VF pareil pour" 6 femmes pour l'assassin" pas de VF et elle existe sur le dvd z1 on doit cette sortie à Jean Baptiste Thoret,qui à la demande studio canal,lui à demandais de voir dans leur catalogue,stock des films qu'il voulais éditer dans une nouvelle collection,et lors d'un entretien au sujet de "6 femmes pour l'assassin" du manque de la VF,il avis répondu qu'à l'avenir il ferai attention si la vf exister pour les prochaines éditions,sorties elle serai dessus,et voilà le résultat.....

ROAD GAMES is a very entertaining Australian thriller from the always interesting director, the late Richard Franklin. It is basically a Hitchcock homage and has a nice light tone to go with the suspenseful situations. Lots of good lighting and interesting camera angles as well - As good as any of the early thrillers from John Carpenter and Brian DePalma. The Anchor Bay US disc quality is excellent and features include a good documentary and a very interesting commentary from the director. Very recommended.

great film enjoyed it

Love this film, watch it a couple of times a year. Terrific thriller with the vastly underrated Stacy Keach. Hitchcock would've been proud.

moyen mais pas de audio fr .