This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I bought a copy of ROAD KILL from Blockbuster the day it came out in Sept. of 2001, and when I watched it the other day, I was reminded of just how fun a film it is.It's about a film student named Alex (Erik Palladino) who ignores his classmates' "seriofilms" featuring talking genitalia, and perks up only when his Kung Fu film is being shown. Needless to say, his teacher isn't too impressed with Alex's work, so he gives him an ultimatum: Do a new film that is unique and intelligent, or flunk the course.Alex is stressed out not only by his instructor, but by a mobster he got his "student loan" from, and his wackily menacing henchman who likes to play with knives. One of the funniest characters is Lars (Billy Jayne) a bleach blonde art student who throws tantrums on a regular basis. The complaints about dairy foods and the paranoia about carbon monoxide were really hilarious.The guys have a mysterious neighbor named Blue (Jennifer Rubin) and when they find out that she is a contract killer who is getting ready to change careers, they beg her to take them along on the road to her next and last assignment. Most of the film is quite funny and lighthearted but it takes a dark turn about 80 minutes in. To me, there isn't an excessive amount of violence, and anyway, the person Blue was violent with deserved to be punished.Overall, ROAD KILL is a unique indie film, with great performances. I even liked the music, especially the song in the beginning. Is this the Kate Donnellon I've heard so much about??? I'd sure like to see Matthew Leutwyler's second film THIS SPACE BETWEEN US (hint, hint) and I'm looking ahead also to DEAD AND BREAKFAST. He's a talented director. There's really nothing bad I could say about ROAD KILL.I'd give it an A.

reviewed by Bryan McFadden The true strength of this film lies in its clearly defined and original characters. The film has a clear sense of direction and the motivaltional complexity of Blue's character is an asset rather than a liability. Jennifer Rubin gives a powerful performance as Blue, a killer who does not take herself too seriously, but suffers from deep childhood trauma. Rubin plays the character with a careful balance between passionate intensity and lighthearted humanity. As a result, Blue is an easily believable character who elicts the sympathy and respect of the audience. This film is rich with entertaining allusion, notably the refence to the nose bandage in Chinatown. A truly wonderful film.

Writer director Leutwyler has a unique idea here but he doesn't know if wanted to do a comedy or a drama. Alex, Palladino, is a film student getting tuition money from a local loan shark, Mr. Z. It seems his films all bear a striking resemblance to bad imitations of Jackie Chan's martial art works and his professor is threatening to end his college career unless he can come up with something original and Mr. Z is threatening him with more unless he can make his payments.Well, his new neighbor, Blue, Jennifer Rubin, turns out to be a hired killer who wants to get out of the business after one last job. Bingo, he gets the idea of making a documentary film about her career and last job. Naturally she goes along with the idea and Alex's roommate, Lars, goes along as his sound assistant. Sort of a combo "The Whole Nine Yards" and "Three for the Road"?But what we now have is a poorly shot and boring Los Angeles to Miami road trip with Blue bearing her soul and Lars killing any humor with poor sight jokes about his lactose intolerance.If that isn't bad enough we have a stop over on the way home so that Blue can get revenge on her pedohilic step father and Alex can fight over the moral dilemma of having filmed a paid killer in action.Rubin, a genuinely attractive woman and underrated actress is wasted in this mess and Palladino, who shows some comedic ability, is as confused as the writer/director is. Anthony Denison has a few funny scenes as the polite, art loving loan shark but this is the kind of movie that should have been given a D by any honest Professor of Film.

It was rated Youth Restricted at Blockbuster, but there's NO NUDITY!!!! It was ok for an indy film if you like the LA movie sceen, but I was expecting naked chicks, what a let down!!! I guess thats blockbusters fault for a misleading rating. Overall it had ok acting, but not a very unique plot, for some reason all young writers write movies about people in LA trying to write movies. huh