“Road Games” (1981)

While recently watching Oscar winning director, Steven Spielberg’s, (Saving Private Ryan), 1971 film, “Duel,” I began to think about another film that involved a truck driver, and the vastness of the open highway, “Road Games.” Directed by Richard Franklin, (Hotel Sorrento) the engaging, stylish, parts drama and thriller movie was released on June 26, 1981, in Australia. Written for the screen by Everett De Roche, (Storm Warning) it is based on an original story that he co-wrote with the director. The 101 minute film has often been compared to BAFTA winner, and five time Oscar nominee, Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.”

Franklin gave De Roche a copy of the screenplay for “Rear Window,” while they were working on another project together. After he read the script, De Roche made the suggestion to the director that the scenario contained within “Rear Window,” would make for a terrifically similar suspense film on the open roads of the Australian outback. While the film is certainly a derivative of the 1954 classic, it is not in any way a blatant rip-off, and does veer off into other cinematic territory.

Golden Globe winner, Stacy Keach (Hemmingway), gives an effective performance playing Quid. He is an American working as a truck driver, who transports meat to different locations in Australia. Along for the ride, is his dingo, Boswell, who keeps him company. Quid talks to himself a great deal. He comments on his fellow travelers, usually in a humorous manner, as a way to help pass the time. (As an aside, the actor had to learn how to drive a 16-gear semi truck for the role).

Quid stops off at a hotel to get some rest. He is turned away, thanks to a man driving a green van who manages to get the last vacant room. The man is accompanied by a young female hitchhiker, that Quid had seen earlier, but had not stopped to pick up. Quid opts to not drive further that evening. It is revealed to the viewer, from a conversation he has on his CB radio with his dispatch operator, that Quid has been up for two days straight. He stays parked outside the hotel, and sleeps inside the cab of the truck.

Quid wakes at 5:00A.M., and lets out his dingo, who wanders over to some garbage bags. The dingo starts pawing at one bag in particular. At the same time, Quid spots the man from the green van watching the garbage bags from his hotel window, as the garbage truck makes its way down the street. Quid becomes suspicious of the individual. He will grow even more so, thanks to reports on the news about the murders of several young women, that are happening along the route, both he and the man in the green van are traveling. Portrayed by Grant Page, (Mad Max) the man, who Quid refers to as ‘Smith or Jones,’ and his green van, will play a recurring role throughout the remainder of the film’s runtime. (As an aside, the filmmakers originally wanted to cast BAFTA and Oscar winner, Sean Connery (The Name of the Rose) as Quid, but budgetary restraints precluded them from being able to hire him).  

Along the way, Quid picks up Pamela Rushworth. The character is portrayed by Oscar winner, Jamie Lee Curtis (Everything Everywhere All at Once). He nicknames her ‘Hitch.’ While the free-spirited Pamela is a likable character, the duration of her screen time is brief. During the time that she does appear, a relationship starts to form between her and Quid. No sooner does he start to have feelings for ‘Hitch’, it appears that she has been abducted by ‘Smith or Jones.’ (As an aside, Jamie Lee Curtis was not originally cast to play Hitch. Australian actress, Lisa Peers was given the role, but AVCO Embassy pictures, who had invested a half million dollars in the film, pushed for an American actress to play opposite Keach). 

Initially, Quid is panicked at the prospect that Smith or Jones is the killer, and what he might do to Hitch. Certain clues lead him to think that perhaps Pamela is interested in being with the man in the green van. The is she or isn’t she in trouble question, sets up an interesting dilemma for Quid, as he pursues Smith or Jones on the open road. 

Marian Edward, (The Wild Duck) provides a bit of comic relief, as Madeline ‘Frita’ Day. Credit must also be given to the excellent work done by cinematographer Vincent Monton (Thirst). The budget for the film was approximately 1.75 million dollars, which at the time made history for being the most expensive Australian film ever produced. (As an aside, two time Oscar winner, Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction), considers “Road Games” his favorite Australian film).  

Has Hitch been kidnapped by the man in the green van? Is he the killer the news has been talking about? Are Quid’s feelings justified toward Smith or Jones? Has Quid become paranoid from too much time alone on the road? All of those questions and more will be answered by the film’s conclusion.

The filmmakers opted for restraint with this movie. I appreciated the clever way the story was presented, as well as the utilization of suspense. Excessive blood, violence, and shock value scenes would have only served to diminish the quality of this particular movie. Franklin implies a great deal, but he also leaves many things to the viewer’s imagination as to what is not being shown on screen. I recommend this for fans of well done suspense films. As of the writing of this post “Road Games” is streaming on Peacock.