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Retro Review: Highwaymen

I discovered the vehicular action/horror movie Highwaymen a decade ago, having sought it out because it was The Hitcher director Robert Harmon's first foray into film in a long ass time. I dug the hell out of it, and quickly logged it on my Guilty Pleasure list. How does Highwaymen hold up 10 years down the road? Stick with me.

Renny Cray embarks on a bloodthirsty rampage to avenge the death of his wife, who was struck down by a serial killer -- a man who hunts and kills women using his '72 El Dorado.

Highwaymen travels the same road as The Hitcher in that it's a dark, twisted tale that often unfolds on desolate highways and in small, isolated locations. And vehicles are the weapon of choice.

Harmon is so good at filming vehicular warfare, I'm surprised Universal hasn't tapped him to make a Fast and Furious movie. His crashes are jarring and spectacular and yes, all practical. And there's a sequence where the beautiful Rhona Mitra is dragged behind the killer's car in a flaming wreck while Renny gives chase. Never seen that before. Pure awesome.

For the kind of movie it is, Highwaymen is original and exciting. It won't win awards, the critics hated it, but we hate them and their pretentious bullshit back. This is a lean and mean guy's movie with a great villain, a tortured hero and a hot chick who looks hot in every frame. If that doesn't get you pumped, go hang out at another site.

Good!

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