Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby

'Freeway II' is just slightly disappointing compared to the original 'Freeway', but once again shows that writer/director Matthew Bright has ideas and attitude to spare. The first movie retold Little Red Riding Hood, this one takes on Hansel and Gretel. Natasha Lyonne is no Reese Witherspoon, but her spunky role here as White Girl, and her memorable turn in the forgotten gem 'Slums Of Beverly Hills' proves that she is more talented than lame-brained crud like the 'American Pie' series and 'Detroit Rock City'. Maria Celedonio had up until this point passed me by apart from a small role in Schrader's 'Touch', but she is sensational here as the psychotic necrophile Cyclona. Vincent Gallo ('Buffalo 66', 'The Funeral', 'Palookaville') has never been less than mesmerizing on screen, even in his dialogue-less blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos in 'Goodfellas' and 'Basquiat', but portraying the utterly freaky Sister Gomez is one of his most bizarre moves to date! Gallo seems set on carrying on the scene stealing nut job reputation of the late legendary Timothy Carey. More power to him! Gallo even brings along his 'Truth Or Consequences NM' co-star Max Perlich ('Drugstore Cowboy', 'Georgia', 'Gummo') as Flacco, a mumbling hunchback. Perlich doesn't completely surpass his similarly gonzo bit part in Johnny Depp's 'The Brave', but it's great to see him try! 'Freeway II' will appeal to fans of Gregg Araki, John Waters and Bruce McDonald more than Michael Bay lovers that's for sure! A must see for trash cinema lovers.

First of all, I didn't look fully at the cast credits for this before I started watching, so about two thirds of the way in I'm pretty sure I said loud enough for my downstairs neighbors to hear (or on the whole block for that matter) "Holy s*** is that Vincent Gallo! That is Vincent Gallo and what is he DOING?! Am I amused? Yes! Ok!" And then I went on with my viewing.

Bright eschews much of the smuggling and social commentary/wicked satire of the first Freeway for more of a straight take-no-prisoners exploitation flick that in some ways (like it's soundtrack) puts it pretty smack dab in the late 90s as far as what-they-could-afford rock songs, and Little Red Riding Hood is traded off for Hansel and Gretel (only if, hey, we have escaped lady convicts who are half totally crazy and half totally not but capable of self defense, with the occasional lesbianism).

Not that that is a bad thing at all, it's just that it revels far more in the sleaze and murder and drug-fuelled mayhem (I haven't seen so much huffed by characters in one movie in a while), though the first twenty minutes in the prison is Bright especially digging his feet squarely into a Women in Prison movie that is kind of half baked; I get why he is after the exploitative imagery of seeing a row of convict women all puking their guts out, but it's taking something that...

I know how it sounds to pick on this point in a movie where people get killed/sexually assaulted/rampant drug use/prostitution/besting the hell out of creepy goddamn men and so forth, at the same time those are staples of such a grimy and trashy piece. The eating disorder part feels a lot cheaper, like it's there for the shock value (with some binge eating for Natasha Lyonne's "White Girl" once she escapes) without grappling with it being a deeper-rooted problem for so many. I can't criticize it more coherently at this time.

Another issue: I don't think Maria Celedonio a Cyclone is wholly convincing, or at least for what she needs to get to, especially when she has to act dramatic in many scenes. As a badass with attitude, that is something she has nailed down like a pro. When she's up against Natasha Lyonne though, who is doing a whole lot to bring both raw power and attitude and a more psychological approach that, dare I say it for something that goes for the BIG moments and swings at all this material, has subtlety throughout and consistently too.

All this said though, it is fun for much of the runtime, and aptly unsettling in its horror in the final act, and I like that Bright is swinging for such mad ideas and chances... Like what Vincent Gallo is doing here and made me happy despite how unseemly it is. And maybe there is something that Bright is trying to get at with a Mexico underbelly that would allow a Wicked Witch character luring the young with her food that connects to modern day terror in the country... Or maybe not! I recommend it, just that it can't help but look lessor compared to the first one.

It's difficult to know how to react to oddball films like this.They're not funny enough to be called black comedies and not clever enough to be termed satires. Obviously the director wants us to be shocked and disgusted and just as obviously wants us to keep on watching, in this I think he succeeds in all directions. No matter what the reactions I think very few people will not see it through to the end for the pacing is just right with action scenes coming at just the right moments.

There's a somewhat cheap look to the production, photography is sometimes poor but there are a few nicely composed scenes. The acting is excellent with Vincent Gallo a standout as Sister Gomez.

See it by all means but you have been warned.

Anyone who has seen the first film in this series will notice numerous major differences between the two films. While the story line and plot structure are very creative and innovative, the way the story was portrayed was less than commendable. Many parts of the film seem overtly sexual and as if they were created for fetish more than to add to the film. There were multiple parts of the film like this, which made it seem more like pornography than a legitimate film starring females. I think this film would've been much better without the extreme efforts to seem "weird", and also without the overuse of pointless and explicit sexuality.

This movie was soo twisted I couldn't help myself...I couldn't stop watching...I hate the friggin title since it has NOTHING to do with the movie, but I've never seen anything like it...I loved the Hanzel and Gretel twist...Natasha Lyonne has become one of my fav actresses...A must see!!!...I cannot believe I completely lived my life for three years without knowing this movie even existed...