He Went That Way
{{Short description|2023 film by Jeffrey Darling}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = He Went That Way (film poster).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Jeffrey Darling
| writer =
| screenplay = Evan M. Wiener
| story =
| based_on = {{Based on|Luke Karamazov|Conrad Hilberry}}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Marc Benardout
- James Harris
- Mark Lane
- Hugh Broder
- Jeremy Kotin
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| cinematography = Sean Bagley
| editing = Adam Wills
| music = {{Plainlist|
- Jamie N Commons
- Nicolas Rosen
}}
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- Head Gear Films
- Teashop Productions
- Mister Smith Entertainment
}}
| distributor = Vertical Entertainment
| released = {{Film date|2023|06|09|Tribeca|2024|01|5}}
| runtime = 96 minutes{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2023|title=He Went That Way (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/he-went-that-way-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmde3mdc3|access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=BBFC}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = $4,339{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr882332165/?ref_=bo_rl_su | title=He Went That Way }}
}}
He Went That Way is a 2023 American crime drama film directed by Jeffrey Darling in his directorial debut, and starring Jacob Elordi and Zachary Quinto. The film is based on the actual events of the serial killer Larry Ranes encountering animal trainer Dave Pitts.{{cite web | url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2023/12/29/23992517/spanky-chimpanzee-serial-killer-ice-capades-dave-pitts-jonathan-larry-ranes-chicago| title=Ice-skating animal trainer's harrowing ride across America with a serial killer — and a chimp — is now a movie | website=Chicago Sun-Times | date=6 January 2024 }}
He Went That Way had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 9, 2023. The film was released by Vertical Entertainment in the United States on January 5, 2024.
Premise
{{More plot|section|date=January 2024}}
The film follows Jim Goodwin, an animal trainer accompanied by his pet chimpanzee, who picks up a hitchhiker later revealed to be a serial killer. It is inspired by real life events involving serial killer Larry Lee Ranes.
Cast
- Jacob Elordi as Bobby Falls, a serial killer based on Larry Lee Ranes
- Zachary Quinto as Jim Goodwin, an animal trainer based on Dave Pitts
- Patrick J. Adams as Saul
- Troy Evans as Hank
- Alexandra Doke as Whitney
- John Lee Ames as Ratso
Production
He Went That Way was announced on June 2, 2021, at the virtual Marché du Film, when it was reported that Jacob Elordi and Zachary Quinto would star in the thriller based on Conrad Hilberry's non-fiction book Luke Karamazov. The film was produced by Head Gear Films, Teashop Productions, and Mister Smith Entertainment. It was the directorial debut of Jeffrey Darling, who died in a surfing accident in North Palm Beach in Sydney, Australia on March 27, 2022.{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2022 |title=Believe Media remembers Jeffrey Darling |url=https://reel360.com/article/believe-media-remembers-jeffrey-darling/ |website=Reel 360 News}}{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=March 29, 2022 |title=Jeff Darling, Australian Cinematographer and Director, Dies at 60 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jeff-darling-dead-australian-cinematographer-director-1235121327/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2022 |title=Filmmaker Jeff Darling passes away while surfing |url=https://nepalnews.com/index.php/s/entertainment-and-lifestyle/filmmaker-jeff-darling-passes-away-while-surfing |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=NepalNews}} It is based on a screenplay by Evan M. Wiener.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/jacob-elordi-zachary-quinto-crime-thriller-he-went-that-way-cannes-virtual-market-1234767718/|title=Jacob Elordi & Zachary Quinto To Star In True Crime Thriller He Went That Way – Cannes Virtual Market|date=June 2, 2021|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602153009/https://deadline.com/2021/06/jacob-elordi-zachary-quinto-crime-thriller-he-went-that-way-cannes-virtual-market-1234767718/|archive-date=June 2, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=June 2, 2021}} According to executive producer Phil Hunt, the production was able to cast Quinto by going through a friend of the actor instead of his agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/afm-2021-talent-battle-robert-pattinson-christoph-waltz-1235037639/|title=AFM: Indies Battle for Talent as Studios and Streamers Lock Up A-Listers|date=November 2, 2021|first1=Scott|last1=Roxborough|first2=Alex|last2=Ritman|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 19, 2021}} Filming took place on location in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/los-angeles-location-filming-record-filmla-1234915537/|title=Los Angeles On-Location Filming Sets Quarterly Record, Doubling Since 2020, FilmLA Says|date=January 19, 2022|first=David|last=Robb|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 19, 2022}}
Release
The film premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 9, 2023.{{cite web | url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/he-went-that-way-2023 | title=He Went That Way | 2023 Tribeca Festival }} In October 2023, Vertical Entertainment acquired distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/he-went-that-way-jacob-elordi-zachary-quinto-vertical-release-1235574720/|title=True-Life Serial Killer Thriller 'He Went That Way' Starring Jacob Elordi, Zachary Quinto & Patrick J. Adams Acquired By Vertical|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=October 17, 2023|access-date=October 17, 2023}} It was released in a limited release on January 5, 2024, prior to video on demand on January 12, 2024.{{cite web|url= https://people.com/jacob-elordi-plays-killer-hitchhiker-picked-up-by-zachary-quinto-he-went-that-way-exclusive-8415640|title=Jacob Elordi Plays a Killer Hitchhiker Picked Up by Zachary Quinto in He Went That Way Trailer (Exclusive)|website=People|first=Tommy|last=McArdle|date=December 14, 2023|access-date=December 14, 2023}}
Reception
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|26|4.5|31|consensus=|access-date=February 2, 2024|ref=y}} {{Metacritic film prose|37|4|access-date=March 9, 2025}}{{Cite Metacritic |title=He Went That Way |id=he-went-that-way |type=movie |access-date=March 9, 2025}}
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "it plays like a tonally uncertain blend of desert neo-noir, prickly buddy movie, misfit character study and crime thriller, with zero psychological grounding and even less suspense".{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=David |date=2023-06-09 |title='He Went That Way' Review: Jacob Elordi and Zachary Quinto in True Crime Misfire Awkwardly Stuck Between Genre Cracks |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/he-went-that-way-review-jacob-elordi-zachary-quinto-1235511685/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Christian Zilko of IndieWire called the film "a competent but emotionally thin story", and gave it a grade of B−.{{Cite web |last=Zilko |first=Christian |date=2023-06-09 |title=He Went That Way Review: A Serial Killer, A Drifter, and His Monkey Get Into a Car… |url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/he-went-that-way-review-1234873042/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=IndieWire}}
Patrice Witherspoon of Screen Rant described the film as "a dumpster fire from start to finish", criticizing the plot, tonal shifts, and performances, except for Quinto's performance, which she praised as the film's highlights.{{Cite web |last=Witherspoon |first=Patrice |date=2023-06-14 |title=He Went That Way Review: Quinto Outshines His Captor In Disastrous Crime Thriller |url=https://screenrant.com/he-went-that-way-review/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Screen Rant}}
References
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