Roadkill

Details

This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover was limited to 1,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.

From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!

A rock n' road movie about a girl who learns to drive

At loose ends with life in Toronto, Ramona (Highway 61’s Valerie Buhagiar) is abruptly dispatched to the wilds of Northern Ontario by her mercenary record promotor boss (eXistenZ's Gerry Quigley) to retrieve The Children of Paradise, a wayward rock band that has disappeared mid-tour. There’s only one problem: she doesn’t know how to drive. Armed with only a Walkman and the clothes on her back, she embarks on a journey that quickly introduces her to a cavalcade of oddball characters, including a cab driver with ties to Elvis, a film director in search of a muse, a singer who’s lost his voice, and an aspiring serial killer (Last Night’s Don McKellar) determined to make it big. With the help of this motley crew, Ramona hopes to push beyond her limits and mount a rock n' roll show for the ages.

One of the defining films of the Toronto New Wave, Roadkill immediately turned heads in 1989 with its freewheeling punk rock style – and a memorable appearance by the one and only Joey Ramone – launching the careers of director Bruce McDonald (Pontypool), star Buhagiar, and co-star/screenwriter McKellar in the process. Boasting a now-legendary soundtrack full of local talent (and the Ramones), this first installment in McDonald’s iconic road movie trilogy (which also includes Highway 61 and Hard Core Logo) is a wickedly funny and enduringly hip DIY joyride. Buckle up!

directed by: Bruce McDonald
starring: Valerie Buhagiar, Don McKellar, Bruce McDonald, Larry Hudson, Shaun Bowring, Gerry Quigley, Mark Tarantino, Joey Ramone
1989 / 85 min / 1.37:1 / English DTS-HD MA 2.0

Additional info:

• Region A Blu-ray
• Scanned and restored in 4K from the 35mm fine-grain master positive by Films We Like 
  
• New audio commentary featuring Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and film historian Jason Pichonsky 
  
• Archival audio commentary featuring writer-star Don McKellar and producer Colin Brunton 
  
• Rebel Cinema (2024, 29 min.) – New interview with McKellar 
  
• Ready for the Ride (2024, 23 min.) – New interview with star Valerie Buhagiar 
  
• Rock n’ Road (2024, 28 min.) – New interview with Brunton 
  
• Lyrical Surrealism (2024, 22 min.) - New interview with cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak 
  
• Interview with Bruce McDonald (2018, 37 min.) – A career-spanning interview with director Bruce McDonald 
  
• On Screen! (2006, 48 min.) - Documentary about the making of Roadkill 
  
• Theatrical trailer 
  
• Booklet featuring a new interview with former TIFF senior programmer Steve Gravestock 
  
• Reversible cover artwork 
  
• English SDH subtitles