Chattanooga Film Festival Coverage
Off Ramp review.
A consistently entertaining road trip that invites you to be part of the Juggalo family.
Festival reviews will not contain spoilers.
Off Ramp
Directed by Nathan Tape
Written by Tim Cairo and Nathan Tape
Starring Jon Oswald, Scott Turner Schofield, Ashley Smith, Jared Bankens, Reed Diamond, Miles Doleac and Emma Frances
Off Ramp Review
Juggalo culture gets some feature film love in Off Ramp. A dark buddy road trip comedy that wants everyone to understand the main appeal of the Juggalo life: Family. Off Ramp is a strange and surprisingly rewarding adventure. There is an earnestness to the world here that manages to neither feel like parody nor pandering. Even when things go comically off the rails…Off Ramp keeps its heart in the right place.
Trey (Jon Oswald) is fresh out of prison. He did his time covering for his friend Silas (Scott Turner Schofield). While Trey is dead set on keeping his nose clean…Silas is more concerned with the duo heading to the annual Gathering of the Juggalos.
Trey and Silas obviously end up on the road together. There wouldn’t be much of a story if they didn’t. Trey is genuine in his desire to turn over a new leaf. Silas, on the other hand, is more of a loose cannon. It’s easy to infer that Trey’s time in prison changed his perspective in a way that Silas managed to avoid. Silas doesn’t come across as a bad person…but he is quick to rage and puts them into compromising positions on more than one occasion. In fact, it doesn’t take long into their road trip for Silas to get them on the radar of the local sheriff.
Needing to ditch their vehicle and find a new one to continue their journey, Trey and Silas end up at the door of Scarecrow (Jared Bankens). Scarecrow is one of the colorful characters we meet over the course of Off Ramp. Unlike Trey and Silas…Scarecrow is a nasty individual. This stop is where we also meet Eden (Ashley Smith). Eden is a young girl trapped in a family that isn’t as positive as the one Juggalos forge with each other.
Off Ramp has a strong energy to it. It’s also funnier than you’d expect from a movie about rabid fans of the Insane Clown Posse. When Trey expresses worry over accompanying Silas on the annual pilgrimage, Silas deadpans “you don’t want to disappoint Butthole Ben”. To which Trey admittedly replies…”no…I don’t want to disappoint Butthole Ben”. It’s a hilarious exchange that works even better juxtaposed with Silas’s impassioned plea. The Gathering of the Juggalos is important to him. It’s the only place in the world where he feels truly accepted. Despite the plight of Butthole Ben providing the comedic beat for Trey’s decision…it is his shared feeling of community with Silas and the Juggalos that informs his decision.
Unfortunately, of course, this isn’t a simple ride down the freeway. Trey takes a literal off ramp along the way. When Silas questions why…Trey profoundly talks about following new paths and not traveling down the same roads. Lessons he has learned that Silas has not. This becomes clear almost immediately. They run afoul of the law and end up fugitives due to Silas’s actions. The way this storyline pays off is so ridiculous (not in a bad way) it has to be seen. However you think the b-plot of Sheriff Gavin (Reed Diamond) and deputy Randy (Miles Doleac) is going to end…I promise you that you’re wrong.
The turn in the third act of Off Ramp borders on absurd. Frankly, it probably crosses into absurd more than a few times. This is where the build earnestness and likability of the story’s two leads really pays off. They become helpless bystanders to a more absurd movie than we haven’t been watching. It would be jarring if Off Ramp didn’t make us care about Trey and Silas to the level that it does.
In the end, Off Ramp is a fun road trip comedy that takes its own detour into something darker on more than one occasion. The overriding theme of the power of chosen family walks a fine line. It doesn’t feel like it’s beating you over the head with it…and it doesn’t ring false either. You don’t need to be a Juggalo to enjoy this journey. Anyone who has ever felt like an outcast will find familiar ground and a worthwhile destination.
Scare Value
Whatever your feelings are on the Insane Clown Posse and their loyal Juggalo fanbase…there is no denying that Off Ramp offers something you can connect with. This is a story about the families we make. It’s also a lot of fun. Colorful characters, over the top situations, and surprising emotional depth elevate this road comedy to a trip well worth taking.
3.5/5
