Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Curt Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

SnoopyStyle Ramona (Valerie Buhagiar) is a meek worker at a Toronto record label. The rock band 'Children of Paradise' has gone off the deep end in Northern Ontario. The record label chief wants to terminate their tour. Ramona insists on going north to find them for her job despite not knowing how to drive. It's a strange odyssey. The lead singer Matthew has disappeared. On the road, she encounters various characters including roadkill filmmaker Bruce Shack (Bruce McDonald) and aspiring serial killer Russell (Don McKellar).This is a black and white cult Canadian indie rock independent movie. It starts with a compelling guerrilla filming of the Toronto Passion Play. Director Bruce McDonald has a sizable supporting role. He's not a good actor but often, an indie can't find good enough actors. This does have the intriguing Buhagiar and the wonderful McKellar. She is able to hold the center and he has some brilliant turns. I wish he is in more of the movie. There is great indie music from the era and this is utterly memorable.

ametaphysicalshark Ramona is sent to recover a rock band (Children of Paradise) which is in danger of missing its final tour date, and on her surreal and absurd trip meets several strange characters, most memorably a frustrated wannabe serial killer who is struggling to get his career off the ground, and who claims to have been driven to his choice by necessity ("what other options do I have? There's not a lot of opportunities up here for social mobility. I mean you can either become a hockey player or take up a life of crime. And I have weak ankles, so there you go") played by screenwriter Don McKellar in the role and film which launched his now prestigious career as actor and writer/director. It's a simple story, and the several plot strands are brought together in a scene near the end that is a real love it or hate it section of the film, apparently.The film works in almost every regard- the mosaic-like, episodic nature of the narrative, the clever, witty dialogue and surreal situational dramedy which would become Don McKellar's biggest asset as writer, the immense soundtrack, even the direction by Bruce McDonald. "Roadkill" is, perhaps, my favorite ultra-low-budget film, simply because it's got an energy and verve that more than compensates for any flaws, and while it works brilliantly on its own terms, "Roadkill" is a conventionally flawed film, I suppose: there is some bad acting, and thanks to its non-existent budget and the fact that it was shot on 8mm, it doesn't look especially great. Still, one thing that struck me most on this latest viewing was how well-made the film is, all things considered. The editing works, even the potentially pretentious jump cuts, and there's some really good photography, especially considering the medium. The most special thing about "Roadkill", perhaps, is that it isn't limited by the time or location it's set in, or when it was released. When I saw the film at age 18 at a screening populated mostly by people too young to have seen the film when it became a pre-Tarantino, pre-"Clerks" indie hit in 1989/1990, the enthusiasm the audience had for the film was palpable. There is an inspired energy about this film that makes even the superb screenplay seem insignificant in comparison to the conviction and enthusiasm the film was made with. When the film received a standing ovation at the end, it was out of sheer enthusiasm, and not out of polite respect. The end result with this film is sure to be polarizing, and the humor probably won't work for a lot of people, but this is low budget gonzo film-making at its best, and to learn the whole story behind the film and the dubious methods of promotion those involved used (including getting the soundtrack on the Canadian charts by sneaking copies off record store shelves) one simply must listen to the commentary track on the DVD, which is easily as entertaining as the film itself, if not more. This is an essential piece of Canadian film, the birth of modern Canadian independent film-making, and in my estimation one of the most deserving winners of best Canadian film at the Toronto International Film Festival. The pseudo-sequel to this, "Highway 61", often feels like a pale imitation and has about a tenth of the charm, but it's still worth watching. The third film in McDonald's 'road trilogy', "Hard Core Logo" is nearly as good as "Roadkill" is, and more technically polished.

AJ Milne Rough and raw in the best sense. Delightfully quirky, damned funny, with the odd, faintly haunting moment worked in. My thought a few years ago, seeing it in a video store was, okay, I remember it got my attention first time round in the theatre, but this was ten years ago; what happens if I rent it and see it again?Answer: it holds up quite well. Yes, the very raw (read 'cheap') production values shine through everywhere; this is part of the fun, after a while. The rough black and white footage makes rural Northern Ontario look properly bleak (and occasionally sinister -- hey, I grew up there; and trust me -- it's appropriate), and, at times, coldly beautiful. Buhagiar is deliciously bemused throughout as the stranger in a (very) strange land, and McKellar's wannabe serial killer is an absolute scream (listen for the line about upward mobility, hockey, crime, and weak ankles; I'll avoid spoiling it for you).It's probably blasphemy to some fans' ears to say it (it's McDonald, it's rock 'n roll, and you're not really supposed to take any of these things too seriously), but on some levels, this is almost a film of substance despite itself, if you go looking for it. Again, it's partly the atmosphere: the melancholy question -- "whatinhell are we all doing here anyway, and exactly why are we bothering, again?" -- a question naturally posed by the area -- works its way in at the edges of the frame. The response of the lead singer of the fictional "Children of Paradise" -- to shut up entirely, and suffer the absurdity of it all without comment, from behind haunted, hollow eyes -- actually makes a fair bit of sense, given the environment.The dialogue is weak through much of it, and not always much helped by the sometimes amateurish delivery, but there are some brilliant moments. Co-writer McKellar, who, in my view, hit his stride with the quietly apocalyptic (see it; I'm not explaining here) *Last Night*, was still working on his game here (and McDonald, honestly, I've always found a little lean this way). But there are definite flashes of great things to come.The soundtrack's got an eclectic thing going for it. As with all three films in the loose 'trilogy' this one started (see also Highway 61, Hard Core Logo), this is a film about rock 'n roll, and is something of a document in this respect -- it features songs by the Cowboy Junkies, the Ramones, and Nash the Slash, to name a prominent few.Overall, a strange sort of Northern Ontario travelogue -- but not exactly the Chamber of Commerce version. More the "come here if you like cold bleak scenery, and consider running over animals a sport" version. Highly recommended, if you're looking for something distinctive, memorable, and frequently, amusingly quirky.

Thaleia An interesting look at one woman's journey of discovery, Ramona must find the ambulatory band, Children of Paradise, in order to find herself. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Ramona meets a cab driver without a brain, a film-maker without a heart, and a serial killer without courage. In leading them to their own paths of personal growth, she discovers her own. An excellent, little film that is worth checking out though it may be difficult to find outside of Canada.