I remember when the media was talking about random highway shootings in California in 1987 and it terrified me. We were back in Germany at this point, but it made me think the U. S. was the wild west. Apparently the story impressed a producer too and we ended up getting Freeway (1988). Darlanne Fluegel is an ER nurse trying to recover from when her doctor boyfriend was killed by the shooter. So, naturally, she takes the investigation into her own hands. She is helped by a mysterious stranger (James Russo, really thinking he is James Dean) and a radio deejay (Richard Belzer) when the cops prove to be useless. Perhaps this biggest surprise of this New World Pictures release is it is pretty well made. Director/co-writer Francis Delia got his start in music videos and has a great grasp on the visuals. The shooting scenes are particularly well done. Of course the film gives away the killer right in the opening credits when they list Billy Drago. Keep an eye open for Kenneth Tobey in one scene as well and Clint Howard as a creepy mechanic (who gets Fluegel a muscle car in the oddest way possible).
