I bought a copy of ROAD KILL from Blockbuster the day it came out in Sept. of 2001, and when I watched it the other day, I was reminded of just how fun a film it is.
It's about a film student named Alex (Erik Palladino) who ignores his classmates' "seriofilms" featuring talking genitalia, and perks up only when his Kung Fu film is being shown. Needless to say, his teacher isn't too impressed with Alex's work, so he gives him an ultimatum: Do a new film that is unique and intelligent, or flunk the course.
Alex is stressed out not only by his instructor, but by a mobster he got his "student loan" from, and his wackily menacing henchman who likes to play with knives. One of the funniest characters is Lars (Billy Jayne) a bleach blonde art student who throws tantrums on a regular basis. The complaints about dairy foods and the paranoia about carbon monoxide were really hilarious.
The guys have a mysterious neighbor named Blue (Jennifer Rubin) and when they find out that she is a contract killer who is getting ready to change careers, they beg her to take them along on the road to her next and last assignment. Most of the film is quite funny and lighthearted but it takes a dark turn about 80 minutes in. To me, there isn't an excessive amount of violence, and anyway, the person Blue was violent with deserved to be punished.
Overall, ROAD KILL is a unique indie film, with great performances. I even liked the music, especially the song in the beginning. Is this the Kate Donnellon I've heard so much about??? I'd sure like to see Matthew Leutwyler's second film THIS SPACE BETWEEN US (hint, hint) and I'm looking ahead also to DEAD AND BREAKFAST. He's a talented director. There's really nothing bad I could say about ROAD KILL.
I'd give it an A.
It's about a film student named Alex (Erik Palladino) who ignores his classmates' "seriofilms" featuring talking genitalia, and perks up only when his Kung Fu film is being shown. Needless to say, his teacher isn't too impressed with Alex's work, so he gives him an ultimatum: Do a new film that is unique and intelligent, or flunk the course.
Alex is stressed out not only by his instructor, but by a mobster he got his "student loan" from, and his wackily menacing henchman who likes to play with knives. One of the funniest characters is Lars (Billy Jayne) a bleach blonde art student who throws tantrums on a regular basis. The complaints about dairy foods and the paranoia about carbon monoxide were really hilarious.
The guys have a mysterious neighbor named Blue (Jennifer Rubin) and when they find out that she is a contract killer who is getting ready to change careers, they beg her to take them along on the road to her next and last assignment. Most of the film is quite funny and lighthearted but it takes a dark turn about 80 minutes in. To me, there isn't an excessive amount of violence, and anyway, the person Blue was violent with deserved to be punished.
Overall, ROAD KILL is a unique indie film, with great performances. I even liked the music, especially the song in the beginning. Is this the Kate Donnellon I've heard so much about??? I'd sure like to see Matthew Leutwyler's second film THIS SPACE BETWEEN US (hint, hint) and I'm looking ahead also to DEAD AND BREAKFAST. He's a talented director. There's really nothing bad I could say about ROAD KILL.
I'd give it an A.