Road Train, the 2010 Australian horror film (known as Road Kill in the US), is one of the most baffling, bizarre examples of horror cinema I have encountered in many years. Which is what makes it so fun to watch. It’s basically the story of a demon truck possessing people, what more could you want?
Attempting to escape in the titular vehicle, the four, including the severely injured Craig, are lulled to sleep and driven off-road into Australian wilderness. What follows is a series of heightened events, where Liz and Marcus leave to find rescue, only for Marcus to give in and drink his own urine after only a matter of hours and also be attacked by a crazed, lone madman, while Liz finds a shack and starts drinking cans of blood. Back at the truck, Craig has become possessed by the spirit of the truck, which is in turn possessed by demon wolves, and plots to kill all his friends. And Nina has found the truck engine leaking blood, but doesn’t put two and two together until about an hour later. (Yes, the truck is fuelled by people.)
There are highlights in Road Train. Craig’s murder of one of the other characters beneath the wheel of the truck is quite inspired, and the film ends with a song penned and performed by Sophie Lowe, which is quite good. But music in other areas of the film is quite hilarious. There’s one recurring motif where it just sounds like a bogan repeating the word “Craig!” Perhaps he is warning the others of their nefarious friend?
Road Train makes absolutely no sense, but it is hilarious for this fact. Trying to make sense of character motivations is an incredibly fun game to play, as you could make up ANYTHING and it would seem plausible. The actors taking the script completely seriously adds to the joy. There’s no tongue-in-cheek here, everyone is desperately trying to sell this as a viable horror film. But the plot holes are too blatant. Why don’t any of these kids have mobiles when it’s 2010. How can being possessed by a wolf-truck heal a broken arm? Oh, the wondrous mysteries of Road Train.