- 1991movierewind
Episode #83: Highway to Hell
Listen to Episode 83 of the Podcast here while you enjoy the show notes.
SUMMARY - In Highway to Hell, Charlie and Rachel are on their way to Las Vegas to elope. To avoid being discovered, they take a seldom-used back road that also happens to contain a secret portal to hell. Rachel (played by Kristy Swanson) is kidnapped by a Hellcop that pulled them over and Charlie (played by Chad Lowe) needs to enter Hell to save her.
Screenplay by Brian Helgeland; Directed by Ate de Jong; and released in Germany on July 4, 1991..
FILM DISCUSSION
It's not a great sign when the main story driver isn't fully explained or understandable. They are eloping and take a back way to avoid cops that they feel would stop them for some reason? Or know who they are?
Whatever the reason, they end up in the stretch of road that is also a portal to hell and the hellcop takes the young lady.
So, we get the explanation from the guy who has lived it and somehow knows the rules, etc, so the boyfriend can go back in and really get the story going.
Although even when we're in hell, there are several characters that serve no major purpose, even if they look like they should.
And we got the entire Stiller family here
The makeup and most of the effects are good and fun.
We like the sets and locations, but wish there were a couple more of them.
The movie bounced around from scene to scene and really reminded us of a mix between Motorama, Drop Dead Fred (by the same director) and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey.
It certainly never took itself too seriously.
Plenty of action to keep things moving.
Plenty of "what the fuck" moments as well to keep you watching.
It was a wild adventure that had tons of plot problems, but that was easy to overlook in the long run.
Awards Talk: At the Saturn Awards, the movie was nominated for best Make-Up by Steve Johnson; and at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, it was nominated for the Best Independent/Direct-To-Video Film
TRUE CRIME & POP CULTURE
This week we don't have any true crime to talk about so we jump right into music.
Here are your Billboard Bottom 5 songs as of July 6, 1991
100. Where the Streets Have No Name - Pet Shop Boys
99. Got A Love For You - Jomanda
98. Shake It (Like A White Girl) - Jesse Jaymes
97. Written All Over Your Face - The Rude Boys
96. Blind Faith - Warrant
Moving on to TV: Here's what you may have been watching on the 4th of July
And here's a video showing the entire Walt Disney World 4th of July Special that we talked about.
RANKINGS & RATINGS
Nikki 1-5 star scale - 2 out of 5
Jon 0-4 star scale - 2 1/2 out of 4
Would you watch it again? - It's a good movie that we thoroughly enjoyed, but we also can easily see how it could have been much better with more attention to the script. We would watch this again on its own merits and if we ever were lucky enough to book a double feature at a theater, it would be a perfect pairing with "Motorama."
If you want to watch Highway to Hell, as of this recording in September 2022, it’s available on Tubi, Digital Rental, VHS, DVD. Check your local listings.
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