Too much of everything

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Without a notable road horror movie since The Hitcher, Joy Ride came out and became a hit with younger audiences and established itself as one of the better horror films at the start of the twenty first century in 2001. The idea of two brothers playing pranks on a trucking radio systems is a good initial concept of a thrilling road movie. Not being able to see the trucker but his car, the voice had to sound creepy and believable. The rugged voice hit the mark pretty well and led to some highly quotable remarks, for instance "Candyy Cannne"… The film is exciting overall but the beginning, middle and ending seemed a bit detached at times, a blemish on the writing and editing throughout.

Three young people on a road trip from Colorado to New Jersey talk to a trucker (Ted Levine) on their CB radio, then must escape when he turns out to be a psychotic killer.This film is sort of like "Duel", though some or most of the action takes place outside of the car. Play a prank on a trucker and this is what might happen. Especially when the trucker has the voice of Buffalo Bill.I thought this film was great. A bit far-fetched at times, because there is no realistic way the trucker could hunt these kids down. But giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he is an expert tracker and caught their license plate at some point...

Joy Ride (2001): Dir: John Dahl / Cast: Paul Walker, Steve Zahn, Leelee Sobieski, Jessica Bowman / Voice: Ted Levine: Effective thriller about a ride home that becomes less than joyful when a prank turns foul. Paul Walker and Leelee Sobieski are heading for Colorado but along the way Walker ends up bailing his brother, played by Steve Zahn, out of jail. There is a C.B radio in the rental car so Zahn suggests they play a prank where Walker imitates a female wanting a good time. They are answered by a deep voice from a guy calling himself rusty Nail. When the prank results in a murder the two realize that they are being stalked. Tense up until its action violence ending where improbability plays a strong factor. Director John Dahl adds suspense by using atmosphere to his advantage. He previously made a similar film called Red Rock West. Walker and Zahn deliver strong performances as they come to realize that sometimes a prank can go into overkill. Leelee Sobieski also factors in once she is kidnapped and facing a shotgun trap. Jessica Bowman is featured briefly as her college friend who is also kidnapped. Rusty is only partially effective because it is never known how he stays ahead of the game. Ted Levine, who played the nasty Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs, voices the less impressive Rusty. It plays off the "cry wolf" theme well resulting in an eerie ride in suspense. Score: 8 ½ / 10

Lewis Thomas (Paul Walker) is a college student who pines for his old friend Venna (Leelee Sobieski). When she tells him that she broke up with her boyfriend, he moves heaven and earth including buying a car to spend time on a road trip with her. On the way to pick her up, his loser brother Fuller (Steve Zahn) is in jail for drunk and disorderly. He picks Fuller up whom he hasn't seen in 5 years. Fuller is a jokester. First he buys a CB radio. Then he pushes Lewis to play a prank on a trucker. Lewis pretends to be a woman as he lures the trucker to a motel where a fight leaves a man near death. The guys are attacked by the psycho trucker. He seems to let them go and then they pick up Venna.The movie has great tension. Zahn does his annoying sidekick character very well. Walker is solid as the all-American type. The movie does take a break when the boys pick up Sobieski. It had build up to such a frantic pace that it feels like the movie stalls in that section. However, it eventually ramps up and delivers quite a satisfying action conclusion. The movie exceeds my B-movie horror expectations.