Road Games (1981)

Review by Tim-O



Starring: Stacy Keach, Jamie Lee Curtis
Directed by Richard Franklin
Released during the slasher craze of the early 80’s, “Road Games” is about an American truck driver (Keach) who, along with his pet dingo, pursues a serial killer who has been preying upon women on the highways of Australia. Along the way, he picks up a young hitch-hiker (Curtis) who joins him in his quest to draw the killer out. When Curtis disappears and authorities begin to suspect Keach is the killer, it’s up to him to catch the murderer and clear himself of the crimes.

A good portion of “Road Games” takes place in Keach’s truck with him relaying his thoughts to his dingo. Amazingly, this never seems to drag and Keach brilliantly plays the role of the bored truck driver who becomes obsessed with a green van he is convinced is driven by the murderer. Although it takes a leap of faith to buy into two Americans meeting and teaming up to catch a killer along the Australian highway, the dialogue is written so well and the tension builds in a way that you soon forget the implausibility of the situation. The cinematography is breathtaking. The film was shot in the wide 2:35 aspect ratio and this is used equally well in conveying the wide open Australian terrain and the claustrophobic interiors Keach’s semi.

Although originally marketed as a typical slasher film, “Road Games” is really a Hitchcockian psychological mystery/thriller that is more than a subtle nod to “Rear Window”. Here though, we have Keach observing possible crimes though the windows of his big rig instead of Jimmy Stewart’s apartment window voyeurism. This is not surprising considering director Richard Franklin was a protégé of Hitchcock’s and even has Keach’s character give Curtis the nickname, “Hitch”, in the movie. (Franklin also directed “Patrick” and the brilliant “Psycho II”) Gorehounds be warned, there is very little violence or gore. The movie is more of a creepy slow burn that builds to an inevitable final confrontation between Keach and the killer.

I really like “Road Games” but think that people going into it expecting a straight horror movie will be disappointed. It has a quirky Australian sensibility to it and a dark sense of humor to go along with the suspense and mystery. A largely forgotten cult film, “Road Games” would probably be better remembered today had it been marketed correctly. Think of it as a cross between “Rear Window” and “The Hitcher” without the violence of the latter. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then I highly recommend giving the film a watch. 7/10