Road Trip Hostage (2023 Lifetime)
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Cast: Veronica Ramirez, Luke Charles Stafford, Chala Savino
Director: Kaila York
Writer: John F. Hayes
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Synopsis (via Lifetime)
When pursuing her dreams leads to a fractured relationship with her mother, a young student angrily leaves home, but soon finds herself the hostage of a deranged criminal who forces her to drive him across the country. Inspired by actual events. Starring Veronica Ramirez, Lukas Stafford, Chala Savino.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Inspired by True Events
Emma is a beautiful diabetic college student with a passion for dance. (She is pretty talented!) Her mother, Hillary, pushes her daughter not to follow her dreams and become a geologist. Emma wants to take a year off, creating tension in the relationship.
We cut to a hunk (whose shirt is unbuttoned one button too many.) in the CIP lounge of a club. His name is Rick, and he is living off his parent’s money. His father cuts Rick off from the family. Unfortunately, his card is continually declined.
Emma gets a professional dancing job and gets into an argument with her mother again. Hillary wants her daughter to stay in school and says the “as long as you live in my house” line. Emma decides to move out and drop out of college. She moves in with her friend Katy, who lives in the same apartment building as… RICK! He invites them to go out with him for a boating trip.
Rick goes to his dad’s house to try and get more money, but things don’t go as planned. His father cuts him off completely, and Rick bashes his dead in with a crystal whiskey bottle. The father’s girlfriend witnesses everything and calls the police. Rick now has to go on the run and takes a gun from a safe and cash from his dead father’s wallet. Rick changes his clothes to give us some shirtless hunk time before rushing off.
As he waits for an Uber, Rick sees Emma crying in her car. (Her dance rehearsals aren’t going well.) He asks her for a ride to the airport. They make awkward small talk.
Graves and Ramirez are detectives on the case, like a low-budget Law and Order Episode.
When they get to the airport, Rick refuses to get out of the car, blaming a panic attack. Emma is not concerned and tells him to get out of her car. He grabs her arm and pulls a knife on her. That is when she realizes she is in danger with a hot stranger.
Rick and Emma drive around aimlessly while listening to the police radio. Rick tells Emma he has no other options and has to kidnap her to get to the border. He promises Emma that he won’t hurt her if she can help him.
At a gas station, Rick opens up about his parents and their rocky relationship. Emma says she understands because his mother raised her alone after her father abandoned her, which is worse than a dad who isn’t there emotionally or physically. Emma uses the bonding time to slip some pain pills into his energy drink.
Hilary tracks her daughter’s phone and runs into the detectives while asking Katy some questions. They follow the pin, and it leads them to the side of the highway heading to the border. (Not sure which one!) The detectives put out an ATB on Emma because she is a hostage on a ROAD TRIP!
Rick tastes the pills in his drink and punches Emma in the face. He tells her he will do it again if she doesn’t do what he says. They attempt to check into a motel, but the hotel manager is suspicious. She should be because once they get into the hotel room, Rick gags and ties Emma up in the bathroom.
Detective Ramirez and Hilary drive down the highway the following day when a report comes in with a sighting of Emma’s car at the motel. Rick oversleeps and gives the police ample time to track him down.
Rick complains about the motel not having continental breakfast, and the hotel manager mouths, ” Are You Okay?” to Emma, who nods no. The hotel manager calls 911 as Rick speeds away and literally runs her over.
Realizing that they need to change cars, Rick goes to a local shopping center and highjacks a vehicle from a shopper with bangs. The duo then go to a thrift store to change clothes and put on wigs! (I feel like we missed an opportunity for a shopping montage here; we get more shirtless Luke Charles Stafford!)
Detective Graves almost finds them at the thrift shop, but Rick and Emma sneak out the back. Emma’s mom and the other detective are onto them, and the police are blockading the roads.
When Rick crashes the car, Emma makes a run for it, and he inexplicably chases after her. Emma calls 911 and tells them she was kidnapped and is on the side of the road. The police on the phone are useless.
Emma pulls up a video of a crying woman and plays it on her phone to lure Rick into a trap. He picks up the phone, confused, and she smashes him in the face with a rock.
Rick grabs his knife and Emma and holds her hostage as Hilary and Detective run up to them. Hilary tries to reason with Rick and empathizes with him. Rick lets Emma go, and the detective takes him into custody.
Emma is a dancer, remember? She has a Black Swan Remix solo, and her mom watches proudly. (But what about college?!?!?!) The end!
Side Note
Minority Report: Emma, Hillary, Club Security, Detectives Graves, and Ramirez
Luke Charles Stafford is a hunk!
Aren’t road trip movies supposed to be fun?! This draggggged.
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Overall rating
Number of Kills:
🔪 (1 knife)
Enjoyment Level (1-5 scale)
🍷 🍷 (2 Glasses of Wine)
Should you watch it?
Pour it up! (Give it a shot)
Put a Cork in It (Skip It)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked & @patrickmiguel
*Photo Credit: © 2023 Lifetime® | A+E Networks®
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