Roadkill

1989 "A rock'n'road movie about a girl who learns to drive."
6.7| 1h25m| en| More Info
Released: 16 September 1989 Released
Producted By: Mr. Shack Motion Pictures
Country: Canada
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

A music promoter sends a young woman on a road trip in search of a band who hasn't been showing up for their gigs.

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SnoopyStyle Ramona (Valerie Buhagiar) is a meek worker at a Toronto record label. The rock band 'Children of Paradise' has gone off the deep end in Northern Ontario. The record label chief wants to terminate their tour. Ramona insists on going north to find them for her job despite not knowing how to drive. It's a strange odyssey. The lead singer Matthew has disappeared. On the road, she encounters various characters including roadkill filmmaker Bruce Shack (Bruce McDonald) and aspiring serial killer Russell (Don McKellar).This is a black and white cult Canadian indie rock independent movie. It starts with a compelling guerrilla filming of the Toronto Passion Play. Director Bruce McDonald has a sizable supporting role. He's not a good actor but often, an indie can't find good enough actors. This does have the intriguing Buhagiar and the wonderful McKellar. She is able to hold the center and he has some brilliant turns. I wish he is in more of the movie. There is great indie music from the era and this is utterly memorable.
Infofreak 'Roadkill' is the second best Canadian rock'n'roll movie ever. The best one, in case you're interested, is 'Hard Core Logo'. Both movies are directed by Bruce McDonald, and it is a pity that very few people outside Canada are familiar with his work. (I'm guessing very few people IN Canada are either, but such is the way of the world...). McDonald's collaborator writer/actor Don McKellar went on to make the brilliant end of the world movie 'Last Night' sans McDonald, but the two make a great team, as this movie, and the equally original and quirky 'Highway 61' show. 'Highway 61's star Valerie Buhagiar also stars here, but in quite a different role, as Ramona, the inexperienced and tentative assistant of a sleazy rock promoter, Roy Seth (Gerry Quigley). Seth sends Ramona on an errand, to round up the Children Of Paradise, a flaky rock band who are making a mess of their tour, and losing him money. As she doesn't drive, she enlists the help of Buddy (Larry Hudson) a chatty cabbie with a million rock'n'roll anecdotes. Ramona and Buddy eventually lose track of each other, and she ends up lost and broke in Ontario, the Children Of Paradise's runaway lead singer nowhere to be found. Ramona's adventures continue, and she makes some strange acquaintances along the way, not least of which Russel the wanna-be serial killer (Don McKellar). This is a very strange, dark and (mostly) unpredictable low budget gem that should appeal to fans of odd films like 'Roadside Prophets', 'Motorama', early Jarmusch and the Coen brothers. It may not be a masterpiece but it's still an overlooked little beauty, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
the dude-28 I highly recommend this movie. It will probably not appeal to mainstream audiences, but that is to be expected. It's a brilliantly done low budget indie that may remind you of Tarantino, even though it was years before Reservoir Dogs. In fact, I'm surprised Tarantino hasn't acquired for Rolling Thunder(his distribution company). I know he's familiar with the director because he reportedly has the rights to one of his other films. You will have difficultly finding it in America. I recommend checking the internet auctions regularly. I assure you it is worth buying to see it, even if you only watch it once. Since it's so unknown in America, you can probably get it cheap as well. You may have noticed I haven't said anything yet about the plot. I think if I tell you plotlines you won't believe me. That's how "out-there" it is. And worth your time and money. Get this video.
Thaleia An interesting look at one woman's journey of discovery, Ramona must find the ambulatory band, Children of Paradise, in order to find herself. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Ramona meets a cab driver without a brain, a film-maker without a heart, and a serial killer without courage. In leading them to their own paths of personal growth, she discovers her own. An excellent, little film that is worth checking out though it may be difficult to find outside of Canada.