Originally released as a rough draft/demo to compel support in the making of a bigger and fuller film project, "HWY: An American Pastoral" is an experimental indie release that finds The Doors' lead singer Jim Morrison in a leading role. Built on the concept of a hitchhiker who murders a driver who picks him up the movie took a life of its own during the shoot. Filmed in the Mojave desert and Los Angeles with an eclectic soundtrack backing it the flick finds Morrison roaming the places' environs. Swimming, driving, conversing, hanging out - Morrison takes the day in the life plot and emerges as the solitary oddball, immersed with the world while naturally distant from it. A decent script as a short would have alleviated the tedium that this navel-gazing exercise in boredom is. For what it's worth it's a good glimpse at Morrison from another perspective and an interesting view of that fascinating time. While not for the casual viewer this is one fans of The Lizard King and The Doors would be able to tolerate.
Review of HWY: An American Pastoral
