Outside Ozona is a 1998 American drama film written and directed by J. S. Cardone, starring Robert Forster, Kevin Pollak, Sherilyn Fenn, David Paymer and Penelope Ann Miller. Set over one night on the highways outside Ozona, the film follows several travelers whose separate journeys gradually intersect as they listen to the same radio station while a serial killer operates along the road.
Plot Radio disc jockey Dix Mayal becomes frustrated with the country-music format imposed by his station manager, Floyd Bibbs, and begins playing blues and rhythm-and-blues during an overnight broadcast. Among his listeners are several people traveling the highways toward Ozona.
Widowed truck driver Odell Parks helps Reba Twosalt, a Navajo schoolteacher who is taking her terminally ill grandmother Effie to see the Gulf of Mexico. Odell and Reba become attracted to one another, although they eventually continue their journeys separately.
Elsewhere, unemployed circus clown Wit Roy travels with his girlfriend Earlene after losing his job, while sisters Marcy and Bonnie drive to their father's funeral. The sisters pick up a stranded psychiatrist Alan Defaux. At the same time, FBI agents investigate a series of murders in which the female victims have had their hearts removed. The killer begins telephoning Dix's radio program and delivering religiously motivated threats. During a roadside stop, Defaux murders Marcy and leaves with Bonnie. Investigators subsequently identify Defaux as their principal suspect in the killings.
As the travelers continue through the night, their paths converge outside Ozona. Defaux encounters Reba and attacks her, but the arrival of the other travelers leads to a multi-vehicle crash. Defaux is killed, and police later discover Bonnie's body with him, confirming that he was the serial killer. Reba and Effie survive, as do Wit and Earlene, whose relationship has strengthened during their journey. Odell is reunited with Reba, while Dix and Floyd, changed by the night's events, prepare to move on from the radio station.
Cast The cast includes: Robert Forster as Odell Parks Kevin Pollak as Wit Roy Sherilyn Fenn as Marcy Duggan Rice David Paymer as Alan Defaux Penelope Ann Miller as Earlene Demers Swoosie Kurtz as Rosalee Taj Mahal as Dix Mayal Meat Loaf as Floyd Bibbs Lucy Webb as Agent Ellen Deene Lois Red Elk as Effie Twosalt Kateri Walker as Reba Twosalt Beth Ann Styne as Bonnie Mimms
Production J. S. Cardone had written the screenplay for Outside Ozona some time before production began, but said that the project gained momentum after actor J. T. Walsh encouraged him to make another film. Walsh intended to play truck driver Odell Parks. Cardone then approached Nu Image about financing the project and recalled proposing a budget of $2.5 million before agreeing to make the film for $2 million. Several cast members joined through Cardone's existing professional relationships, including Kevin Pollak, Penelope Ann Miller, Meat Loaf and Taj Mahal.
Walsh died three days after filming began. According to Cardone, Walsh had previously suggested Robert Forster as an alternative for the role of Odell; Cardone contacted Forster after Walsh's death and he joined the production. The film was produced by Carol Kottenbrook and Scott Einbinder, with Irek Hartowicz serving as cinematographer, Amanda I. Kirpaul as editor and Martina Buckley as production designer. Taj Mahal and Johnny Lee Schell composed the music.
Release Outside Ozona opened in Los Angeles on December 18, 1998, and in New York during the same week. Sony Pictures and Nu Image handled distribution. The film earned $7,394 at the domestic box office from a ten-theater release.
Reception On Rotten Tomatoes, 25% of eight critics' reviews are positive. John Anderson of the Los Angeles Times criticized the film's writing and the awkward convergence of its storylines, but praised the performances, particularly Robert Forster's, as well as the rhythm-and-blues score. Roger Ebert similarly criticized J. S. Cardone's use of contrived parallels, overly written dialogue and heavy-handed preaching, but praised some of the film's more sincere moments and its evocation of the deserted nighttime highways.
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