Search - Blacktop on DVD

PARADISE BY THE TRUCKSTOP LIGHTS

Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 01/24/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"We've had THE HITCHER, HITCHER II, BREAKDOWN and others focusing on the plot of this movie. HBO films brings us Meat Loaf Aday (what a strange last name)in the role of a psychotic trucker who seemingly had a rather difficult youth. He overhears a couple having a slight argument regarding commitment and capitalizes on this when the woman decides she's not staying with her traveling comic boyfriend. Meanwhile studly boyfriend finds out that Meat Loaf may be responsible for the disappearance of a young girl. Hmmm...from hereon, it's a chase movie with some unusual dialogue between Meat Loaf and his captive, and some pretty scenery.
Meat Loaf, known for his bombastic career singing overwrought Jim Steinemann songs, does a commendable job in his role, but toward the end, he goes over the top, even if he is a psychotic. Kristin Davis as Sylvia is one of the movie's problems; she doesn't have the charisma to pull her role off. Lochlyn Monroe, who was so good in SCARY MOVIE, is lame in this role, trying so hard to be a studly Charles Bronson character. For a thriller, the movie is also very slow, in between the inevitable action scenes. The climax seems to borrow directly from BREAKDOWN, but it does maintain its suspense. I think BREAKDOWN is a far superior movie, but this one is okay."

A definate must-see

warmasterofchaos | Poway, California, USA | 07/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember first seeing Blacktop on Thriller Max on the 7th of this month. It was on at about three in the morning. I tell you, it was the best I've seen in the longest time. I had never thought of Meat Loaf as anything but a musician until I saw this movie. Jack was one of the meanest and scariest bad guys to date, and Meat really brought the character to life.I saw it again late late last night (about 11:15) and it hasn't changed, thank God. A "must-see".-Joshua Underwood, 15
July 19, 2002"

A (Chillingly Good) Bumpy Ride

R. Schultz | Chicago | 05/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellent, overlooked thriller - with well-acted menace.



Black Top is one of those relatively low-budget, quick-production suspense movies that relies on casting an acclaimed actor or celebrity from another field in the central role of psychopath - and then lets the action revolve around his depredations. In this case, Meatloaf fills the bill to grippingly good effect.



We've all heard a man and woman start to argue, maybe as they're coming out of a tavern, half-sloshed. And while they may have been chummy enough in the tavern, out on the street, things turn ugly. The man starts slinging foul language, using the B... word, accusing the woman of being a slut. If you carry that common script farther into rage and irrationality - you get the stuff of a lot of thriller movies. And Meatloaf makes the transition from pal to pathology with exceptionally frightening results. He slides from seeing Kristin Davis as female, into seeing her as female figure, a representative of everything he has come to hate. And his yellowing teeth almost seem to morph into fangs at that moment, so convincing is his fury.



If you like thrillers that aren't slasher films, you will like this. It definitely stands out from the ordinary traffic jam of scary movies.

"

Psycho Trucker

grannyeckel@yahoo.com | USA | 03/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the finest acting performance I've ever seen of Meat Loaf's. Not all the cast measures up to him, which diminishes the movie. It is gripping and suspenseful. Sometimes a bit unbelievable, but worth a watch to see "Mr. Loaf" run the gamut of emotions."