‘This is like some kinda prehistoric Internet…’
Paul Walker is an actor who has completely passed me by. As the The Fast and the Furious franchise has never darkened my door, I’ve never had any reason for Walker to enter my life. By some kind of cosmic intervention, this unremarkable thriller from 2001 has appeared on my watchlist (for reasons that I can only begin to fathom). Now, this film definitely exists. I just watched it. And it was surely fine. But, I will almost certainly never ever think of it again from the moment I wake up tomorrow morning…
When a weird prank goes wrong, Lewis (Walker) and Fuller (Steve Zahn) end up being mercilessly stalked by a murderous and unseen trucker. Along the way they pick up Venna (Leelee Sobieski), presumably because the producers demanded that there be a hot girl in this piece of shit somewhere. So, this is basically Steven Spielberg’s Duel, but for Paul Walker enthusiasts.
Let us begin with the positives, Joy Ride is never dull. It is, in fact, pretty exciting. In one bit, a massive truck drives straight through the middle of a different truck, tearing it in half. Anyone telling me that isn’t exciting is a big liar. My first experience of Walker was pleasant enough. He’s pretty likeable here. He sells his creeping fear competently. Zahn is the best of the protagonists, but Ted Levine steals the show with a masterful voice performance as the killer on the other end of the CB radio. Not his first iconic role as a serial killer it must be said.
John Dahl has become a celebrated TV director in recent years, working on shows as diverse as The Walking Dead, House of Cards and Billions. He also directed Rounders, an underseen gem that sees Matt Damon and Ed Norton fall foul of a Russian poker shark. It’s great. Joy Ride isn’t great. Despite a co-writing credit from JJ Abrams. But, as something to watch on a Sunday afternoon with the rain pouring outside (as I did), it’s a perfectly passable thriller.
And just like that, tomorrow comes and POOF, it’s gone from my mind forever…