Joy Ride - A Movie Review

We’re going on a road trip. What’s the worst that can go wrong?

Joy Ride drove into theaters in 2001. On a road trip from Colorado to New Jersey, two siblings think it’s a fun idea to prank a trunk driver over a CB radio. Followed by a sinister being, they’re lucky if they’re going to make it out of this situation alive.

You never know what can happen on a road trip. Road trip films are my favorite, especially when a layer of horror is added. If Joy Ride teaches you anything, never mess with other drivers on the highway. Joy Ride is one suspenseful film. What the characters endure is terrifying.

Steve Zahn and the late Paul Walker were so natural in all their interactions and reactions to horror. They had good chemistry. Not the closest siblings, taking a road trip helps them bond more. Except, they’re not always on good terms, quarreling over little things.

I really like Zahn’s visceral acting. Not only is he an underrated actor but he can perform in any genre. All his dialogue and bug-eyed reactions were played off extremely well.

Not so lucky in joining the road trip, Venna (LeeLee Sobieski) is caught up in the terror and romantic tension. Thankfully, scenes were cut that would have meshed opinions and relationships as it would have overshadowed her character.

Never mess with anybody. On road trips, you don’t run into just anybody. The ensemble was used to its best advantage. It’s hard to trust anybody. You may meet the nicest people who will help you out at no cost, while at other times, you could meet your worst nightmare.

Rusty Nails is a terrifying person. The filmmakers did a great job showing him as little as possible. His unsettling voice is enough to make you run for the hills. Signifying a truck as his physical being, the characters are constantly on the run. You never know where he could be.

John Dahl instilled great use of tension and suspense. It took him four years to make this film. This is a dialogue film. His technical work is also a stand-out. For motel scenes, the screen is tinted red or green to signify danger. Since most scenes took place at night, Dahl replaced the lights of the truck with aircraft landing lights in order to keep the sky consistently dark.

Sometimes Dahl tricked the audience. One of my favorite scenes involved the duo thinking that a person was the trucker after them. Speeding down the roads until ending up at a dead end, just like that, it’s not what we were expecting. Horror catches us off guard and Dahl succeeds at that.

I was surprised to find out how many alternate endings exist in Joy Ride. The ending chosen for the film has endured mixed feedback, but it’s an example that terror doesn’t end. I felt my throat close up as all the characters are running around trying to prevent the situation from happening, all while an object slowly barrels towards them.

Joy Ride’s climax is so suspenseful. Action is happening everywhere. The subject matter of Joy Ride may be triggering to anyone who has ever been followed or stalked. Plus, there is one scene that shows Rusty Nails forcing the characters to do something against their will. Horror is about anything.

Go watch this underrated film on Hulu. I’d watch this film a second time. If you’re looking for a film to keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the one.