It's Christmas in Texas. Military Police Archie Sparks (Fred Ward) is hunting AWOL Corporal Meredith Cole (Julie Mond). She escapes and boards a bus with a variety of passengers. The bus is harassed by a passing biker gang. One of the bikes fall over and the bus runs over it. The biker starts shooting killing the bus driver and others. They manage to kill the biker but the rest of his friends come looking for revenge. They drive into an isolated scrap yard and must fend off the criminals.The story is thin and worthy of any number of B-movies. It's not that believable in the age of cell phones and interconnectivity. The whole movie isn't that realistic. The biker gang seems more like central casting rejects. It's a cross between Mad Max 2 and Home Alone. The junk yard is stock full of MacGyver material. There is some cat-and-mouse stuff in the night. It does have some fun 80s action. There are some solid actors here doing it for the paychecks.

Sometimes you just need a film that will let you sit back and enjoy the show. They made a lot of these in the 70s. Action films that really were just there for fun.This one takes place in Texas. You would think after all the chainsaw massacres, people would stay clear, but they don't. This time they run afoul of some scumbag bikers.Lea Thompson (Back to the Future I and II) gave a stirring performance. She was one tough cookie.The bikers may have had the firepower, but there was some McGuyver in this group, especially in Mr. Vargas (Everett Sifuentes). They used whatever they could find to stay alive., and some (Alice Greczyn) found strength they didn't know existed.A fun movie.

Bus full of people traveling across the western US is set up by a band of motorcycle riding outlaws, one of whom wears a cape. They find refuge in a junk yard and must band together to stay alive. Junk Yard Wars and MacGuyver meet the Seven Samurai. Well made action film never fully comes together. I found the side bits with Fred Ward as a military cop chasing AWOL soldiers better than the main thrust of people being attacked by the gang. I think they work better because they don't feel like a bumped up TV movie, having an edge that the rest of the film really doesn't have. I saw this as the last part of an action triple feature and while it probably is the best of the bunch on a technical level, its also the least interesting story wise with most of what happens just sort of laying there. Actually what it is is coldly efficient, so much so that you really don't feel much except when it doesn't seem like it was machine made. Worth a look for action fans, but I'd wait for cable.

I saw "Exit Speed" (2008), in Dallas, at Studio Movie Grill. What adds to the excitement is the presence of the cast and crew, who joined us, while the film kept us on the edge of our seats! I haven't had so much fun since "Jaws" kept people out of the water, and "Psycho" (the Alfred Hitchcock version) kept people out of the shower! David Rees Snell, who plays Danny Gunn (the bus driver), looks so cute--while standing in his underwear (he should be able to get plenty of babes)! Too bad that the director chose not to use the character throughout the film. David Rees Small would add more action to the film, and would make the movie even more interesting. There were some things that could have been done differently. If the bus driver had not been killed, it would have added to the tension (driving the bus, while wounded, in an erratic way). The bus could have been driven by stunt drivers, and there could even have been some special effects. At some point, the survivors could have grabbed a gun, taken one of the motorcycles, and sought help (in this way, there would have been more survivors).All of the cast and crew do a wonderful job, and the movie keeps us well entertained. And, Everett Sifuentes, who plays the Spanish-speaking Mr. Vargas, provides comedy relief and steals the show!I hope this movie opens doors for these obviously artistic and creative people, who are very talented. There is plenty of action, and every cast member gives us his or her piece of the action. This movie may or may not be an award winner but, considering the fact that it was done on a tight budget, the film provides plenty of innovation and thrills!It is worth seeing, and I rank this film an 8 out of 10. You've probably never had a bus ride like this!