Highwaymen
Directed by Robert Harmon
Starring James Caviezel, Rhona Mitra, Frankie Faison, Colm Feore
Release Date: 2004
DVD Encoding: Region 1
Rated R

Some would call Highwaymen a horror. We call it a tragedy...that poor ’68 Barracuda. Hotrods seem to always take a beating in movies like these. But considering the other movies starring Jim Caviezel (Passion of the Christ), these beatings are not surprising.

Five years after his wife is killed in a hit-and-run, Cray (Jim Caviezel) hits the roads in search of the man that ran down his woman. His mode of transportation: a 1968 Plymouth Barracuda—not intended for highway use. His opponent: the dreaded Fargo. Fargo’s mode of transportation: a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado. Both cars are awesome in their own right. The way the Caddie launches that Saab into the air, while only denting its own grille—classic!

Incidentally, after the run in with Cray’s woman, Fargo has since continued his vehicular-homicidal rage by targeting unsuspecting women across the country, which brings us to his newest victim, Molly. Molly has a knack for getting almost everyone killed with whom she’s shared a car ride, which might help explain her fear of driving. With Fargo unhappy about leaving someone alive, Cray’s only choice is to use her as bait to lure Fargo out in to the open, but Cray never anticipated a Caddy with a door-mounted bucket-scoop or Will Macklin, state traffic investigator.

Highwaymen plays with cars like other movies play with guns: never-ending ammo, never-ending fuel, which is convenient since neither Fargo nor Cray seem to have day jobs. Also, these cars smash into poles, plow into stacks of other junk cars, winding up buried under these junks in the process, and eventually flip over and catch on fire, yet continue to keep on truckin’. Combine this with the vague obligatory calls to the authorities like, “I’m at a hotel somewhere near the state line,” it’s amazing anyone makes it out alive at all.

However, the climax of this movie brings together everything that you think should happen. The suspense of having to actually wait for it just makes it greater. And with people like Fargo, you definitely have to wait.

So don’t run out to the video store to rent Highwaymen, speed there—quickly and recklessly, but watch out for...Will Macklin, state traffic investigator.