ROAD GAMES (1981)

Directed By: Richard Franklin 
Written By: Everett De Roche 
Story By: Richard Franklin & Everett De Roche 
Cinematography By: Vincent Monton 
Editor: Edward McQueen-Mason 


Cast: Stacy Keach, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marion Edward, Grant Page, Robert Thompson, Angelica La Bozzetta 


Pat Quid is driving a semi across Australia. On the way he encounters various other travellers, and the occasional hitchhikers repeatedly as they're traveling the same road. A favorite pastime of Pat is to play games to pass the time on the journey. (Such as to make up backgrounds of the other people on the road.) Pamela is one hitchhiker he picks up. But when she disappears, he suspects that the driver of a van who has been acting a little strange, (Smith or Jones) maybe the serial killer mentioned on the radio. But his pursuit of the van driver brings him to the attention of the police, who begin to suspect him.

This is a film that is quite the sleeper. You don’t exactly expect much and it delivers so much more.

Stacy Keach delivers, he is so good in this film. He gives a naturalistic, lived in charismatic performance. As the camera and the audience constantly stays with him. As he mostly talks to his dingo companion.

The film is almost a one man show of character and tension.

The film is reminiscent of REAR WINDOW with DUEL thrown in. Where we have a protagonist who mostly Watches and irks the killer. Little by little. While having a female companion who joins him in this and comes very close to being killed. While he drives the roads. He is stuck most of the time in his truck which leaves him to be remote and available to see around through his front window. Driving these roads he is cut off from regular civilization to a degree.

The film is very discreet on it’s violence. As there is barely any though the constant threat of it. So that you can see why director Richard Franklin was picked to helm PSYCHO 2. As this film is hitchcockian. Even the Jamie lee Curtis character is nicknamed Hitch as a reference.

The film offers plenty of tense moments. Where he believes he has outsmarted his prey.

It also offers a hypothesis where we wonder is he just paranoid or is what he believes real. Even though early on the film gives the answers to the audience. Though Keach’s Character doesn’t necessarily know. Though the film keeps them Connected.

When the villain is unmasked the film allows a kind of catharsis. Though not exactly a huge release. As we still don’t really know who he is. Why he did it. The mystery is solved but we never met or knew him before as most mysteries at least offer that more as a surprise then anything.

The terrain is barren and picturesque as he drives along. Leaving him lonely at times and also him and the killer he is following being the only ones on the road.

The film Has plenty of car chases using Australia’s open roads and sounds known for which is why it was used in Ozploitation documentary NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD as an example of the genre.

The films supporting characters are few and far in between where you are not sure if they are somehow the killer, connected to the killer or just another future victim. Some scenes are more comedic to cut through the suspense a little and showcase these memorable side characters

Jamie lee Curtis is here for romantic tension and give him another companion. She also ends up becoming an accomplice and victim for him to try and save. She comes off as his opposite as she appears more upper class, stuck up and bratty.

The 360 degree shot in a bar to really soak in the scene, atmosphere and characters. As well as the rare time the camera leaves Keach. Even though we still hear him.

Nudity seems brief and only there as a request to the type of film. Almost like it was contractually obligated.

This feels like a good drive in feature.


GRADE: B+