Episode 131: Route 666

The Undead Symphony

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And we are back and I genuinely don’t know what to expect with this one. 2001, and starring two Stalwarts of the late Brat pack era Lou Diamond Philips and Lori Petty. I mean, normally I would rattle of 3 movies the stars had been in, and I would be listing Mega Shark v Mecha Shark and Sex School 8 Mr Long Comes Back, or something similar, BTW only one of those movies was made up. But with Lori Petty and Lou Diamond Philips do I need to do that? I mean he was in La Bamba, Young Guns, and Stand and Deliver. True, it then dropped off and he played minor roles but he was always good. And Lori Petty, Tank Girl, she was Talk Girl, and in the original Point Break and Cadillac Man. They are both instantly recognisable. But I am losing the plot a little here.
I am losing the plot as Lou Diamond Phillips sent us two sound snippets, anecdotes about working on the movie and Fear the Walking Dead, an episode he directed that caused a bit of chafing. Listen out for Lou at the start and about 28 mins it. Very very cool. And the amazing Lori Petty sent us a file too, telling us about having to act as stand in AD when the director went walkabout. And she loves her concrete monsters. Who doesn't? But back to the movie..
After an assignment to retrieve a mob informant Rabbit (Steven Williams) leads them into the Arizona desert, federal agents Jack (Lou Diamond Phillips) and Steph (Lori Petty) opt for a seldom-used road in order to evade hit men. The highway that they take, however, has a storied past involving a chain gang that met a horrible fate -- the men still walk the road as the undead. Can Jack and Steph ward off the restless zombies and survive their desolate journey?

Let’s see shall we?

[that’s the sound of the men working on the chain…. Ga—a-a-a-ng)
Overall, while "Route 666" may not have been well-received by mainstream critics, its cult following demonstrates that it has found an audience that appreciates it for its quirks and shortcomings.

And we like cult – so I am going to score it 5.5/10 for the whole Dale Midkiff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lori petty thing, but mostly for Steven Williams as Rabbit. He was superb.