Road Rage

This is a prime example of been there, done that filming. Hasn't been that long since I saw one very much like this in which a pair of loonies terrorized a family with a car: a situation which could have been resolved with a good twice barrel 12 gauge scattergun. Not that this was a complete waste of time, but the producers were just operating within the old psycho/scared woman mold which has been beaten to death over the years. These folks knew who the bad guy was; why not merely show up at his doorstep late one night and pour a SUV full of high octane whup-ass on the sucker's pointy little head till he got the message that anymore highway hijinks would be totally unacceptable. Only if you just gotta see a film and nothing else is playing.

The truck driver Eddie Madden (Jere Burns) loses his family in a car accident while driving leaving town on vacation. Some months later, he becomes a deranged man, and his boss waives his faults and keeps his job expecting for his complete recovery. When the real-state agent Ellen Carson (Yasmine Bleeth) accidentally cuts his truck off, Eddie threatens her with his vehicle. Ellen calls the 0800 and presents a complaint against his aggressive behavior in the traffic. Eddie is fired, finds her identity, and stalks Ellen, her husband Jim Carson (John Wesley Shipp) and her fifteen years old stepdaughter Cynthia Carson (Alana Austin), manipulating them and menacing their safety. Although having many clichés, a ham actor (John Wesley Shipp) and an actress completely miscast (Alana Austin), and lots of exaggeration in the plot, "Road Rage" is an efficient low-budget thriller. It is hard to believe the inefficiency of the police to arrest Eddie, or the lack of safety in the Carson's house, but anyway the story hooks the attention of the viewer until the last scene, mostly supported by the excellent performances of Yasmine Bleeth and Jere Burns. I saw this movie on VHS, I had the chance to repeat the scene and I noted the terrible edition of the car accident in the beginning of the film: there is a cut, when the red car stops, and in the next scene, it crashes Eddie's truck. See this movie without a great expectation, and the viewer may have a reasonably good surprise. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Pânico na Estrada" ("Panic in the Road")

I have seen some real cheesy made for tv movies in my time but this one really takes the cake. For one, why is it called ROAD RAGE? This movie is 80% about some sick guy obsessing over some chick that cut him off. I have to admit that I did get a nightmare after I watched this movie. It did freak me out a little. The movie was not horrible but it could have been better. With TV movies like Noah's Ark and Merlin standards should have been set.

Yasmine Bleeth cuts off the driver of a delivery truck and spends the next 2 hours fighting for her life. How appropriate the man is driving a bevRAGE delivery truck. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation you can use this movie as a blueprint for how to avoid disaster. This movie pretty much goes through the motions without too much effort. A little more raving by the villain would have added some camp value.

Jere Burns plays a psycho driver in this movie who was cut off by Yasmine Bleeth. Personally, I side with Jere Burns in this movie. No one should be able to cut you off and get away with it. (Hint, Hint, my comments reflect what the movie is about). This is a cat and mouse movie, Yasmine Bleeth being the Mouse, and Jere Burns being the Cat, or rather should I say the Psycho Beast Cat who wants revenge against the mouse for cutting him off on the road. If you have a chance to watch this movie, do it. It is a very suspenseful, action filled, and fun movie.