This article was originally published on beingtheremag.com, an independent music and film magazine that ran from 2004 to 2007. It is presented here as part of the Being There Magazine archive.
By Adam Anklewicz | Being There Magazine, October 2004
Rating: ★★★★ (4.0/5)
Starring Valerie Buhagiar and Don McKeller
Written by Don McKeller & Bruce McDonald
Roadkill is part of a rock ‘n’ roll trilogy. This film was the beginning. Bruce McDonald’s story and Don McKellar’s screenplay became an immediate classic Canadian film.
Ramona (Valerie Buhagiar) was born and bred in Toronto. Having lived in a big city and never really travelled, she had never even learned how to drive. Her boss sends her to Northern Ontario to end The Children of Paradise’s tour. Hailing a cab to take her to the train station, Ramona realizes that the cab driver wants to take her all the way to Sudbury. Ramona meets some interesting characters along the way, including a young man who has taken a vow of silence (Shaun Bowring); Russell (Don McKellar), an aspiring serial killer; and Bruce Shack (Bruce McDonald), the documentary filmmaker. Ramona must realize what her role is in this story as she wanders from character to character. She realizes that she is what everyone is missing and figures a way to solve their problems.
As with most Canadian films, not many people have heard of this film or seen it. Not even Canadians. Shot low budget on 8mm film in black and white, the film immediately has a style of its own. More attention seems to have been focused on the visuals and audio is ignored. This does leave something to be desired as the audio levels drop during conversations.
The Roadkill DVD has more extras than would be expected from an independent Canadian film made in 1989. Two short films are added, Elimination Dance and Fort Goof, both of which were directed by Bruce McDonald. A very funny audio commentary is also available with Don McKellar and producer Colin Brunton.
McDonald’s rock ‘n’ roll trilogy began with this film, continued with Highway 61 (which was also penned by McKellar), and ended with an adaptation of Michael Turner’s book Hard Core Logo. Each film seems better than the one that preceded it, but the bare elements of Roadkill and Ramona’s story make Roadkill a classic.