Off Ramp

I caught Off Ramp at the Boston Underground Film Festival back in March and was absolutely delighted by this quirky comedy. I haven't laughed this hard during a feature film in years, and what is even more amazing about the movie is that the humor wasn't even the best part. I sat through the movie thinking damn the lighting is incredible. After the film, Nathan Tape the director came up to speak, and he mentioned what he did for a living. He is a professional gaffer. Well, damn, no wonder why the lighting was so awesome. Anyway, I hope this film finds an audience and leads to Nathan being able to make another movie. Sorry, I didn't talk to you at the festival, Nathan, and sorry I didn't give this movie a 10. 9 is pretty darn good though.

Off Ramp starts off feeling like the movie 'Detroit Rock City' as a wacky on the road adventure with friends trying to make it to a concert. Well in this film it's The Gathering Of The Juggalo festival. At first it starts loose and fun then around the half way mark the movie makes an abrupt tonal shift and gets really dark, and not for the better of the film. After that a bunch of whacked out crazy stuff happens. Then it kinda just ends.

This movie is alright but to me it just feels like two completely different films that never quite gel together. And not climaxing with them performing at the festival was a huge mistake! Since these guys kept talking about performing and you see one dude constantly showing that he got over his stage fright, it just feels like a loose end that was never tied up.

I don't know, I honestly wanted to love it but I just found it all to be whatever.

OK ... I'd never heard of Juggalos before watching this so, yes I'm old, or something ... I have heard of Insane Clown Posse, though I can't remember any of their music ... But that doesn't matter ... The characters in this are so much more than any stereotype ... Have the american government / fbi really.catagorized these guys as.gangs of interest !!! ... That is pathetic ... Anyway, what we have here is a tale of people who are bright enough to choose who they count as family and are honourable and loyal to each other in an honest way, from the heart, not from brainwashing ,,, When you look at the state of a lot of america these day, this attitude is the sane one, rather than a large proportion of the vacuous masses who seem to be blindly shambling along, manipulated by delusional freaks with loads of money and no real care or understanding of reality ... Watch this ... Its a real superhero film.

OFF RAMP captivated my attention the entire time! Twists and turns that lead to unpredictable outcomes throughout this movie yet full of wittiness between two friends that had you feeling apart of their inside jokes! Laughter including morbid humor, moments of sorrow, situations that shocked your brain into "wait, that normally doesn't happen in movies" to understanding the full extent of loyalty, love and acceptance within the Juggalo Family. Do not pass the opportunity to watch this movie. It is one that seems to cover a lot of issues at hand between the misconceptions of people that chose a different journey in life to be accepted with exactly who they are at the core of their heart.

I've never felt more compelled to write a film review. A friend brought this screening idea up to me and we went expecting it to be something to laugh at. Turns out, it's a genuinely earnest, surprisingly wholesome, and impressively executed little movie I'm so glad I saw! It was very clearly done with love and care by people who had something to say and they said it well!

We watched the new Crow remake the day before and it's remarkable how much better this film is by comparison. Two movies trying to have the same emotional core, but one was done with love and the other was The Crow (2024).

I don't want to give anything away, but I wanted to tip my hat to everyone involved. Give this scrappy little gem an honest watch and I think you'll be glad you did.