Freeway (1996)
August 26, 2022 12:52 PM - Subscribe

Following the arrest of her mother, young Vanessa Lutz (Reese Witherspoon) decides to go in search of her estranged grandmother. On the way, she is given a ride by school counselor Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland). During the journey, Lutz begins to realize that Bob is the notorious I-5 Killer and manages to escape by shooting him several times. Wounded but still very much alive, Bob pursues Lutz across the state in this dark, comedic modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

Also starring Amanda Plummer, Dan Hedaya, Brooke Shields, Brittany Murphy, Bokeem Woodbine, and Alanna Ubach.

Written and directed by Matthew Bright.

76% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming in the US on Amazon Prime, Shudder, Kanopy, Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi. Justwatch listing.
posted by DirtyOldTown (5 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
what a debut!! RW is so great, so over the top awesome in this.
I'm surprised the RT rating is not higher.
posted by supermedusa at 1:15 PM on August 26, 2022 [2 favorites]


A fantastic and completely unexpected movie, which I first saw with no preparation, a random rental at the Blockbuster for a totally surreal Friday night viewing experience.
posted by LooseFilter at 3:46 PM on August 26, 2022 [2 favorites]


I think I only watched Freeway twice, the first time and when I taped it. Or perhaps it was when I taped it. I liked Reese (still do). So I would have taped it without watching it first. Anyway, what I remember best are the performances. Everyone was all-in with their performances, which really sold the movie for me. Reese and Keifer, of course. Dan Hedaya and Wolfgang Bodison were good as the cops (whatever happened to Wolfgang, BTW?). Not just the performances stick out in my memory, but the script as well. IIRC, Reese and Keifer say some pretty outrageous, though funny, things. :D And then at the end, Reese says something, pretty non-chalant, and then laughs, something that has stuck in my memory for decades.
posted by Stuka at 3:48 PM on August 26, 2022 [1 favorite]


Good; but I have a bad memory of watching this with a group who refused to acknowledge that it is a modern telling of Little Red Riding Hood. Big bad wolf on the way to grandmother's house, etc.

Memorable for being on the very short 'remember that one where Reese Witherspoon makes a prison shiv from a toothbrush and a razor blade?' film list.
posted by bartleby at 3:41 PM on August 27, 2022 [1 favorite]


This is a fantastic movie. I love Reese Witherspoon's swearing.

This is another movie I keep recommending to people, but none of them ever watches it.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 6:38 PM on August 27, 2022 [2 favorites]


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