RELEASED TO VIDEO IN 2014 and directed by Declan O'Brien, "Joy Ride 3: Roadkill" depicts horrific events on the backroads of the American prairie when a youthful racing crew on their way to Road Rally 1000 mess with the wrong trucker, Rusty Nail.
Rusty Nail obviously moved from his former location in the desert wilderness far outside Las Vegas, Nevada, to the lonesome prairies of Texas (note his license plate and the Kansas plates of the racers). The change in locale to the flatland prairie/forests (shot in the Winnipeg area) makes for a slightly different ambiance to "Joy Ride 2," but story-wise it's more-of-the-same, minus the obnoxious goth-punk.
The first "Joy Ride" (2001) was akin to a modern-day "Duel" (1971), but with eye-rolling improbabilities, particularly in the last act. "Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead" took that template and added slasher & 'torture porn' elements, which is what you get with this one. But I like the protagonists better, led by Jesse Hutch, the race car driver. Kirsten Prout and Leela Savasta are effective in the feminine department with Kirsten being particularly adorable, but both need to gain at least 12-15 lbs.
This is the first movie that reveals Rusty from the get-go (Ken Kirzinger), which is interesting, but they should've kept his identity a mystery IMHO, like in "Duel" and the first two movies, not that it matters much. At the end of the day this is a throwaway slasher thriller, but it works for what it is, an over-the-top slasher-horror on the American highways. Turn off your brain and enjoy the quick, implausibly horrific ride. If you can't do this, stay away.
THE MOVIE RUNS 95 minutes and was shot in Winnipeg and Provincial Rd 305, Tourond, Manitoba, Canada. WRITER: Clay Tarver. ADDITIONAL CAST: Benjamin Hollingsworth, Gianpaolo Venuta and Jake Manley play the remaining race crew.
GRADE: B-
