Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Freeway 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 22, 2022

Matthew Bright’s career as a writer/director only lasted for four movies, and during this run, the helmer made sure to make his mark by offering askew takes on the human experience, often pumping up the endeavors with shock value to secure viewer attention. His first effort is 1996’s “Freeway,” with Bright trying to rework the story of “Little Red Riding Hood” into a streetwise tale of survival and revenge, with Reese Witherspoon portraying a particularly nasty fairy tale heroine, while Kiefer Sutherland becomes a perverted, serial killer “wolf.” Bright’s fondness for extremity is immediately understood, giving “Freeway” a funky sense of threat, but some, including the filmmakers, have identified the picture as a dark comedy, though it’s quite difficult to find anything funny about this overview of suffering and mental illness.

Vanessa (Reese Witherspoon) is an illiterate teenager trying to survive life. When her streetwalker mother (Amanda Plummer) and sexually abusive stepfather (Michael T. Weiss) are carted away by the cops, Vanessa is left with nothing, hoping to travel to her grandmother’s house. During the journey through Los Angeles, the confused girl is picked up by Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland), who claims to be a child psychologist, eventually revealing his mission as a serial killer. Vanessa defends herself and disfigures Bob in the struggle, sending her to prison, where she makes plans to escape and put Bob down permanently.

“Freeway” offers a defined screen presence for Vanessa, who’s a particularly loud teenager facing a list of behavioral issues connected to her volatile upbringing. She can’t read, has a gang member (Bokeem Woodbine) for a boyfriend, and her mother has been arrested, sent to prison while her child is left to fend for herself. Escaping foster home placement, Vanessa soon meets Bob, offered a ride by the seemingly friendly, caring man. This initial interaction takes up quite a bit of “Freeway,” with Bob commencing practiced predatory actions, trying to slowly peel Vanessa to the core, exposing the humiliation of her sexual abuse. Bright lingers on gruesome details, adding to the overall ugliness of the feature, setting up Bob as a killer with extreme fetishes, while Vanessa eventually understands the danger she’s in, defending herself with a gun, but she fails to kill her attacker.

The rest of “Freeway” becomes a grab bag of ideas and tones, finding Bob dealing with his disfigurement while keeping his dark desires away from his wife (Brooke Shields), and Vanessa goes on an odyssey of incarceration, battling inmates and planning her escape. Again, many believe this is all played for laughs, with Bright guiding cartoonish performances and adding scenes of exaggerated punishment, but “Freeway” is also fairly oppressive by design, making laughter a strange response to what becomes a repetitive display of shrill performances and limited storytelling, finding Bright more interested in the corruption of his characters, not their journey.

Freeway 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

Vinegar Syndrome brings "Freeway" to UHD, "restored from its 35mm original camera negative." This release offers an "uncut" version of the picture, bringing back blood and nudity that was previously deleted to acquire an R-rating. Detail is excellent throughout the viewing experience, examining gnarly makeup designs and assorted wounds. Facial surfaces are textured. Exteriors are dimensional, exploring city streets, and interiors preserve decorative additions and depth. Skin tones are natural. Primaries are alert, with deep red blood and bright costuming, including vivid orange prison jumpsuits. California greenery is distinct. Blacks are deep, handling evening encounters and shadow play. Highlights are balanced, with a great sense of sun and automobile lights. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Freeway 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

An "original" 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is provided for this "uncut" version, offering a pleasingly clear understanding of dialogue exchanges and performance choices. It's interesting to hear Witherspoon's shrillness occasionally reach the limitations of the recording equipment, and Bob's voice box lines are understood. Scoring offers satisfactory support, with crisp instrumentation. Sound effects offer snap, and a few channel effects add to the listening event. Atmospherics are appreciable.

Freeway 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 is a new track with writer/director Matthew Bright.

• Commentary #2 is an archival track with writer/director Matthew Bright.

• "Vulgarity is Timeless" (30:57, HD) is an interview with writer/director Matthew Bright, who charts his early jobs as a pot salesman and member of Oingo Boingo, trying to make something connect as a screenwriter, receiving attention from Oliver Stone after his work on "Gun Crazy." Looking to "Little Red Riding Hood" to provide a plot, Bright details his writing process, focusing on character. Casting is celebrated, with the interviewee comparing Reese Witherspoon to Jimi Hendrix in terms of raw talent, while Kiefer Sutherland struggled with the darkness of his character. Bright discusses the tone of "Freeway," tapping into class struggles and mental health woes to come up with a level of craziness. Shooting locations are highlighted, and help was provided by Stone, who protected Bright from the producers, while composer Danny Elfman worked cheaply.

• "Murder Twins" (24:37, HD) is an interview with actors (and identical twins) Leanna Creel and Monica Lacy, who were involved with college at the time of production on "Freeway," finding their way to the material, which offered them time with screen violence after Disney-fied early career choices. The Sundance Film Festival experience is recalled, seeing the feature with a semi-disgusted audience. A celebration of Reese Witherspoon is presented, finding the interviewees making it perfectly clear how much respect and love they have for the star of "Freeway." This is a conversational chat with Creel and Lacy, who jump around topics and expose their sibling dynamic, but they praise the picture and the era it was made in.

• "Producing 'Freeway'" (18:32, HD) is an interview with Brad Wyman, who found Matthew Bright's screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival, quickly attaching himself to the moviemaker, whom he describes as "elfin-like," retaining little faith than anyone would make his picture. Wyman recalls time with Oliver Stone, who helped bring the project to a different professional level. Praise is offered to stars Reese Witherspoon and Kiefer Sutherland, and the feature's battle with editing is recalled. The interviewee identifies his production responsibilities and highlights creative achievements, including Danny Elfman's score.

• "Changing Lanes" (17:15, HD) is an interview with editor Maysie Hoy, who moved from work on Robert Altman's "The Player" to "Freeway," trying to maintain employment throughout the 1990s. Enjoying Matthew Bright's screenplay, Hoy worked on maintaining the strange tone of the picture, delighted to develop the comedic aspects of the work. Time with Bright is recalled, who was surprised by the editing process, learning to trust Hoy. Rating issues are recalled, fighting the MPA on language concerns, and the cult longevity of "Freeway" is explored.

• "You're Under Arrest" (12:12, HD) is an interview with actor Robert Peters, who was offered a part by casting director Mary Vernieu, responding positively to the screenplay. Thoughts are shared on co-star Reese Witherspoon and writer/director Matthew Bright, and Peters goes into characterization and location shooting, battling the heat. The cult resurrection of "Freeway" is also analyzed.

• "To Catch a Predator" (11:09, HD) is an interview with actor Wolfgang Bodison, who was offered a part in "Freeway" after working on "A Few Good Men." Research was important to Bodison, learning more about police procedure, and he managed to rub co-star Dan Hedaya the wrong way, causing some tension. The interviewee provides his appreciation of "Freeway," and his interactions with fans.

• "R-Rated Edits" (6:32, HD) provide clips of scenes that were initially edited to get rid of an NC-17 rating.

• Archival Interviews (SD) include writer/director Matthew Bright (14:16), executive producer Oliver Stone (8:06), actress Amanda Plummer (3:07), co-producer Samuel Hadida (8:20), and composer Danny Elfman (4:23).

• EPK Interviews (8:32, SD) spend time with executive producer Oliver Stone, writer/director Matthew Bright, and actors Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Amanda Plummer, and Brooke Shields.

• EPK Interviews #2 (5:44, SD) offers more thoughts from executive producer Oliver Stone, writer/director Matthew Bright, and actors Reese Witherspoon and Brooke Shields.

• BTS Footage (6:09, SD) provides a look at the production in motion.

• And a Video Trailer (1:46, SD) is included.

Freeway 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Freeway" has its fans, amassing a cult following over the years, with people enjoying the chaos Bright creates with the endeavor. I'm not standing in the way of such appreciation, but its difficult to see the film as a goofy diversion or sly commentary on the way of the world. It's too severe to be accepted as a good ole time, and not satisfying as a character study, with Bright's interests (obsession?) in depicting cruelty often blocking the view of the high-flying, John Waters-esque feature he's trying to create.