"Freeway" is a darkly comedic, totally modern twist on the Little Red Riding Hood fable straight out of the depths of Matthew Bright's bizarre mind. Oliver Stone took a liking to the script, became executive producer of the film, and hooked Bright up with an outstanding cast. In his first directing role, Bright let his cast run wild with his script, allowing them to play each demented character to the extreme. The result is a wild, twisted, crude, and hilarious adventure with a very specific 18-25 audience in mind.
Reese Witherspoon gives an astonishing performance as Vanessa Lutz, a 15 year old girl (though Reese was 19 at the time) who has been through every bit of trouble a girl her age could have possibly experienced. Her father was murdered when she was very young. Her mother works as a prostitute right outside of their trashy, rented house. Her drug addicted stepfather has abused her so often that it has become normal behavior. She has been in and out of foster homes where she has always been mistreated. She is illiterate, and it is questionable how much actual schooling she has ever had.. She curses like a sailor, is a recovering pyromaniac, and has an uncontrollable temper. In spite of her dreadful upbringing, Vanessa has become street smart, strong, and even witty.
The film begins with Vanessa's mother and father violently hauled off on to jail on multiple charges, leaving Vanessa all set to be sent off to foster care again. The youth officer assigned to Vanessa hopes for an alternative and learns of Vanessa's grandmother. Though Vanessa has never met this grandmother, she quickly decides this would be her best option. Thinking fast, she cuffs the youth officer's ankle to a bed, steals her car, and sets off to her grandmother's house. First, she checks in with her boyfriend (according to Vanessa, fiancé), hoping he will join her for the ride, but he cannot go because he has a court date the next week. Our Little Red Riding Hood then turns onto the freeway and is off to see her grandmother.
It's not long however before the dreaded "wolf" arrives. When Vanessa's car breaks down, Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland - "Dark City," "A Time To Kill," "A Few Good Men"), stops on the freeway to help her out. He is going her way, so he offers Vanessa a friendly ride which she does not hesitate to accept. Bob tells Vanessa that he is a child psychologist, and once he has earned her trust, she begins to open up to him. Unable to control himself, Bob's questions become more and more sexual and disturbing. Eventually, Vanessa realizes that she has possibly stumbled onto the dreaded "I-5 Killer" who is wanted for murdering young girls like herself. A showdown between the two of them follows, but keep in mind, we are still very early on in this complicated and twisting story.
Reese Witherspoon first emerged on the screen as a 13 year old in 1991 in the critically acclaimed drama, "Man in the Moon." In 1996, she earned her first fame in the teen horror / thriller "Fear" and the largely unseen "Freeway." She did not really catch the eye of mainstream audiences until her roles in "Pleasantville," "Cruel Intentions," and "Election" a few years later. Although she has always been an excellent actress and has shown enormous diversity in her roles, "Freeway" definitely holds her most impressive performance to date. Kiefer Sutherland, Dan Hedaya, and more turn in strong performances as well, but there is no doubt that this is Reese's show.
With its brutal violence, extremely strong language, drug use, and very bawdy humor, "Freeway" is definitely aimed at an 18-25 audience. For those interested though, it is a very unique, exhilarating, and darkly hilarious adventure.
9 out of 10.
Rated R for violence, language, sexuality, and drug use
DVD Extras: I just received my "Freeway" DVD in the mail from Columbia House today, which is why I eagerly gave it a second viewing. The film is presented in beautiful widescreen format. A very informative and entertaining full length commentary by director Matthew Bright is also included on the disc. The only other bonus material available on the DVD is the original theatrical trailer.
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