Route 666

ROUTE 666 isn't really a horror movie, though that's probably where you'll find it in the video story. Like TREMORS, ROUTE 666 is more of an old-fashioned B movie, the kind of film you'd see as the second feature at a 50s drive-in back. The plot is pretty basic: federal marshals transporting a key witness to testify in Los Angeles are stranded on a closed strip of Route 66 - known as Route 666 - and are besieged by the ghosts of four chain gang workers who were killed years before.

Lou Diamond Phillips is good, and Steven Williams manages to show some comedic skills with some funny dialogue and reactions. His frantic screaming for help after nearly being killed by one of the ghosts at an abandoned drive-in is particularly hilarious. He definitely has the best part of the film. Lori Petty isn't great, but at least she's not as bad as she can usually be, and Dale Midkiff is good, but the rest are pretty much unknowns in typical supporting roles. Veteran character L.Q. Jones plays the local sheriff with a secret.

The movie moves at a brisk pace, never dwelling on the quiet moments too long, and bringing some gritty, jittery camerawork to the action scenes, similar to the style of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Okay, ROUTE 666 is no PRIVATE RYAN, but it's not supposed to be. It's a well-crafted little suspense movie with some cool-looking zombie/ghosts, a good dose of comedy, lots of action, and a cool soundtrack that perfectly captures the feeling and bleakness of the landscape. I will definitely buy this one on DVD, but it would have been great to have a director commentary.

I saw this for the first time recently. Was on my radar for almost 2 decades. The movie is outdated but it is still one time watch for fans of the genre. The movie starts like an action film n turns into a horror one. A nice genre mash up. US marshals take a wrong turn while bringing in a witness. The road they take is a cursed one n local Sheriff knows the mystery behind it. As soon as blood falls on the ground, dead rise from the ground n kill people with jackhammer, huge hammer, pick axe, road rollers, etc. The best part about this film is that the entire stuff takes place in broad daylight in the middle of nowhere, with sun soaked settings.

Are you ready for some weird entertainment? What seems to be a decent cop show turns into a horror flick. Yes, there is plenty of action...but you find yourself wondering how much stranger can this thing get. Some pretty good actors assembled to do this thing for producer Terence M. O'Keefe. William Wesley directs no doubt with a grin. This is a toss up between being really bad and being just a below average B-movie.

Lou Diamond Phillips and Lori Petty are government agents that track down a Federally protected witness(Steven Williams)hiding in the desert along Route 66. After convincing him to return to LA for his appearance in court things get crazy. It is decided to take a shortcut on a piece of closed highway, Route 666, where the now small FBI caravan is attacked by four zombies. The undead are four prisoners/murderers that were slaughtered while working on a road crew several years earlier. One of the zombies happens to be Phillips' estranged father.

Phillips has starred in worst...check out BATS. Somehow he keeps his dignity without embarrassing his following too much. I found Miss Petty pretty much irritating throughout. Williams is outstanding and has most of the best dialogue. Dale Midkiff is notable as a pompous FBI agent. And kudos to the veteran actor L.Q. Jones playing the corrupt county sheriff. The road less traveled is finally rid of its phantoms. Worth your test drive.

Good tension throughout, the living-dead guys are creepy enough (not easy to pull off in bright desert sunlight), and the Native American shaman looks more like a deli counterman than the time-worn cinema stereotype--all in all, worth a look-see. Personally, I could have lived without all the jiggling camera work during the action shots, and the ending was a little weak, but otherwise I'd give it a 6 out of 10.

One big problem--though out of fairness it's not something that is peculiar to this flick alone. In fact, this has been a pet peeve of mine for years, and I dearly wish it would be advised against by every teacher of cinema...

ACTION RULE # 1: If people shoot the "bad thing" fifty damn times, and with no effect, THEN DON'T HAVE THEM KEEP ON DOING IT!

Come on people, relax!

Taken for what it is -- a little horror flick -- ROUTE 666 more than fills the bill.

This one is worth a view just for Gary Farmer. Sure, his role was nothing more than a cameo (and he did seem to be trying to hide behind those sunglasses), but then all Gary needs is a cameo. Remember him in GHOST DOG: WAY OF THE SAMURAI? He only needed one line to steal that flick (Stupid white men.) and GHOST DOG is one damned great film.

I could defend the rest of the cast (I think everyone more than held their own and turned in solid performances) but there is no need. Gary Farmer and peyote tea? What else is needed?

I've only seen this one on the SCI/FI channel (a number of times), but will happily fork over the cash for the DVD the first chance I get.