Review of Joy Ride (2012) by Adam B — 18 Aug 2010

If you ever want to look up the definition for teen horror film, look no further than Road Kill/Joy Ride. Before I start off with my drivel, why does it have two names? I'm assuming 'Joy Ride' is the American title, and 'Road Kill' is the British, but what is the actual point? Is it so difficult just to have one title?!

Anyways, despite the fact all I could hear while watching this was some little voice screaming "teen horror', this wasn't half bad. There are a few pointless moments that drag on and I'm assuming the director was trying to make us connect with the characters (it didn't work by the way!), but there are large proportions of this that are completely irrelevant. But when something interesting does happen it's fast, tense and full of suspense. At times it is laughable that all you are watching is people being chased by a truck but there some scary moments.

I'm not mad about Paul Walker as an actor, but I suppose he was okay in this and Steve Zahn is quite entertaining, and does well to keep the audience interested in the unnecessary parts of the film.

The 'twist' at the end was a complete joke. It hilariously predictable and also ridiculous at the same time, it's funny how someone can be kidnapped and bound by someone and then later not realise that the dead body is in fact the wrong person. It just reeked of an attempt at making more money, by leaving it open for a sequel, no matter how much it may damage the story of the first film.