LA Shorts International Film Festival Short Feature Review: ‘One for the Road’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Richard Clarke-Larsen, Alexander Flores, and Travis Hammer as The Stranger, Booth, and Tookie in Daniel Carsenty’s ONE FOR THE ROAD. (Photo Courtesy of Purple Haze Productions.)

One particular aspect of our modern world that is quite fascinating, is how helping people is now all the rage. Because truly, there is a sense that people need to come together and do the right thing for others. Either by donating to a GoFundMe for a family or individual that is struggling, or through demands to those in charge to offer better care and benefits to people down on their luck or struggling with mental illness and housing issues. And what makes this so fascinating, is that it is in many ways, a long-overdue and welcome paradigm shift. Because it wasn’t that long ago… that Americans were deeply afraid of other Americans and wanted little to do… with helping them.
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For in the late 1970s and most of the 1980s (and onward to varying extent), there was a strange vibe in America. For parents were constantly afraid that their children would be abducted and harmed by strangers and there was a fear that being kind to others on the street would also result in violence and terror against the individual that wished to help. All of which came forth for reasons that were never quite clear. But it was there, and it is wild to know such fear existed and well… that zeitgeist and that air of fear are top of mind today, simply because a short feature that recently debuted at the LA Shorts International Film Festival, resurrects those fears and explores them and their origin, in a unique and creative manner.

A feat that One for the Road, accomplishes by transporting us to an out of the way diner in the middle of the night. One that is isolated but busy, and on this night, a couple of the regulars here find themselves amid quite the conundrum. In that, Booth and Tookie’s favorite waitress, Gale, is filled with fear over a strange patron that walks in the door. For that Stranger is clearly not of sound mind and body, and he is giving off quite the eerie vibe, and well, Gale asks for their help in chasing him off so the fear in the pit of her stomach can fade. An ask that leaves both men nervous. Because they simply do not know if they want to interrupt their peaceful night and their meal to handle what could be an unsettling situation. But of course, kindness prevails and that… quickly turns to regret, when Booth and Tookie realize that on this night, their good deed will be punished by the secret the Stranger is keeping from them.

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Which is a story, that truly reflects that fearful era in American history, in an outright perfect manner. In fact, the film is shot with a look that makes it feel as though we are in the 70s and/or 80s with these people and that only adds to the real fear that is present here from these men and from Gale. The kind that speaks to a culture that at the time… was so rattled by the world and threats surrounding society at the time, that the mere thought of just being kind was outlandish in nature. For the world was seen as this evil place where darkness fed upon kindness, and that truly does give us perspective on a lost era, one that some might say is alive and well. Since some of those fears still exist, but they are nothing like what permeated this era and permeates this night in the story. But all fascinating examination aside, make no mistake about it… this is a horror story.
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One based off of a short story by Stephen King of the same name and of course, that means this particular tale must dive into what the worst-case scenario could be if a good deed were to be punished by the cruelty of the universe and that leads to one tense ending to this tale. Wherein the story plucks upon some very primal fears that we all harbor. Since the unknown hangs heavy over our heroes’ destination and of course, what awaits them is indeed the stuff the nightmares and well, the scares really do work here. Because director Daniel Carsenty builds tension in a masterful manner and handles the scares in a fashion that feels organic and natural. Which makes one’s skin crawl as the horror plays out and ironically enough, going this route adds to the exploration present here. 

Simply because, in someone’s mind, back in the day, that was likely how they saw a good deed playing out, and well, everything we’ve discussed brings together, a delightful horror feature. One that truly pays respect to King’s original story while finding a way to stand on its own, and of course… offers some fine examinations on days gone by, and some fine commentary on the human condition and our relationship with fear, and hopefully this wonderful feature gets a wider release down the line. Because people should indeed get the chance to enjoy this wonderful gem of a horror feature, one that truly features all the hallmarks of a great horror story.

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