The Joyriders 1999

Gordon Trout, Martin Landau, is an elderly man whose quiet life is upended when Cam, Shawn Hatosy, Crystal, Heather McComb, and Jodi, Elisabeth Moss—a trio of runaway teenagers who live on the streets—kidnap him for his car and his money. Their road trip is improvised and reckless, with Gordon treated as little more than a reluctant bankroll for their schemes. As the trio pushes forward, Gordon’s sense of safety erodes, and the tension between captivity and coercion threads through their journey.

Through the intervention of a rural minister, Kris Kristofferson, Gordon begins to see his captors in a new light: they are not simply rebels or criminals, but a tight-knit group of friends who lean on each other to survive, each carrying their own hard-won resilience. The minister’s presence offers a glimmer of possibility that there could be merit in giving people a second chance, even in the most unlikely of circumstances. This spark prompts Gordon to reassess the dynamics at play and the humanity behind the predicament.

Moved by the minister’s counsel, Gordon chooses to extend friendship and help to his former captors. He finds himself drawn into a fragile, evolving bond that starts to resemble a makeshift family, something he admits he hasn’t felt in a long time. For Gordon, this potential new family arrives at a moment when his own life is fraying: his marriage is strained by professional and personal failures, and his wife has offered one final chance to salvage their life together by meeting her cruise ship when it docks. The possibility of rebuilding a life speaks to a broader theme of renewal and connection that runs through the film.

Meanwhile, the police cultivate a different narrative. They stay in touch with Gordon’s son, and as reports from the road accumulate, concern grows about Gordon’s mental state. The authorities interpret his behavior as evidence that he has been brainwashed by his captors, painting him as a danger to himself and others rather than a victim caught in an extraordinary situation. This tension adds a layer of complexity to the story, complicating the relationships at the center of the road trip.

The film weaves these intertwined lives with sensitivity, presenting an emotional, character-driven drama that explores loyalty, responsibility, and the possibility of redemption. As the story moves toward its ending, Gordon, Jodi, Cam, and Crystal each wrestle with the impulse to reshape their lives in meaningful ways. The question lingers: what will their futures hold when the road finally turns toward a destination of their choosing?