Paradise Highway

{{Infobox film

|name = Paradise Highway

|image = Paradise Highway poster.png

|caption = Theatrical release poster

|director = Anna Gutto

|writer = Anna Gutto

|producer = {{Plainlist|

Claudia Bluemhuber
Georgia Bayliff
Michael Leahy
Anna Gutto

}}

|starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

|cinematography = John Christian Rosenlund

|editing = Christian Siebenherz

|music = Anné Kulonen

|studio = Grindstone Entertainment Group
Silver Reel

|distributor = Lionsgate

|released = {{film date|2022|7|29|United States}}

|runtime = 115 minutes

|country = United States
Germany
Switzerland

|language = English

|budget =

|gross = $222,607

}}

Paradise Highway is a 2022 thriller film written and directed by Anna Gutto in her feature length debut and starring Juliette Binoche, Frank Grillo, and Morgan Freeman. An international co-production between the United States, Germany, and Switzerland, the film was released in the United States on July 29, 2022, by Lionsgate.

Plot

To save the life of her brother, truck driver Sally reluctantly agrees to smuggle illicit cargo, a girl named Leila. As they begin a danger-fraught journey across state lines, a dogged FBI operative sets out on their trail, determined to do whatever it takes to terminate a human-trafficking operation and bring Sally and Leila to safety.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Juliette Binoche as Sally
Frank Grillo as Dennis
Hala Finley as Leila
Cameron Monaghan as FBI Special Agent Finley Sterling
Veronica Ferres as Rose
Christiane Seidel as Claire
Morgan Freeman as Gerick
Connor Adkins as Random gay kid
Angel Gwin as Green Jersey girl

}}

Production

The film is an international co-production between the United States, Germany, and Switzerland,{{cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |title=Brad Pitt-Starrer 'Bullet Train' To Kick-Off Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival, Lakeside Festival Unveils 75th Edition Selections, Juries |date=July 6, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/david-leitchs-bullet-locarno-film-festival-line-up-1235058606/amp/ |access-date=October 9, 2022}} produced by Grindstone Entertainment Group and Silver Reel; they confirmed the lead cast of Juliette Binoche, Frank Grillo and Morgan Freeman in July 2021.{{cite web|last=Corder|first=Frank|title=DPS Commissioner tells movie company the "hard-earned reputation" of MHP Troopers means "a hell of a lot to us"|date=July 2, 2021|website=Y'all Politics|url=https://yallpolitics.com/2021/07/02/dps-commissioner-tells-movie-company-the-hard-earned-reputation-of-mhp-troopers-means-a-hell-of-a-lot-to-us/|accessdate=July 23, 2021|archive-date=June 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611211250/https://magnoliatribune.com/2021/07/02/dps-commissioner-tells-movie-company-the-hard-earned-reputation-of-mhp-troopers-means-a-hell-of-a-lot-to-us/|url-status=dead}}

Filming occurred in Jackson and Clarksdale, Mississippi, in July 2021.{{cite press release |title=The magic that Mississippi offers to international film productions |first=Nina |last=Parikh |agency=Mississippi Film Office |date=July 1, 2021 |website=Screen Daily |url=https://www.screendaily.com/sponsored-content/the-magic-that-mississippi-offers-to-international-film-productions/5160947.article |access-date=October 9, 2022}} Filming also took place in Brookhaven, Mississippi.{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Brett|title=Wesson family becomes 'Yellowstone' family|date=August 25, 2021|newspaper=The Daily Leader|url=https://www.dailyleader.com/2021/08/25/wesson-family-becomes-yellowstone-family/|accessdate=October 9, 2021}}

As of August 2021, the film was in post-production.{{cite web|last=Rawden|first=Jessica|title=Morgan Freeman Reveals The Career First He Got To Do With Ryan Reynolds On The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard|date=August 11, 2021|website=CinemaBlend|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2571840/morgan-freeman-talks-hitmans-wifes-bodyguard-career-first-ryan-reynolds|accessdate=October 9, 2022}} In October 2021, it was announced that Lionsgate acquired North American distribution rights to the film.{{cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|title=Lionsgate Boards Juliette Binoche, Frank Grillo & Morgan Freeman Thriller 'Paradise Highway'|date=October 19, 2021|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/lionsgate-boards-juliette-binoche-frank-grillo-morgan-freeman-thriller-paradise-highway-1234858446/|accessdate=October 9, 2021}}

Release

The film was released in theaters and on-demand in the United States by Lionsgate on July 29, 2022.{{cite web |last=O'Rourke |first=Ryan |title='Paradise Highway' Trailer Has Morgan Freeman and Juliette Binoche Caught in a Human Trafficking Operation |date=July 10, 2022 |website=Collider |url=https://collider.com/paradise-highway-trailer-morgan-freeman-juliette-binoche/ |access-date=October 9, 2022}}{{cite magazine |last=McArdle |first=Tommy |title=See Juliette Binoche and Morgan Freeman in Pulse-Pounding Trailer for Paradise Highway |date=July 7, 2022 |magazine=People |url=https://people.com/movies/see-juliette-binoche-and-morgan-freeman-in-pulse-pounding-trailer-for-paradise-highway/ |access-date=2022-07-08}} The film was also shown at the Locarno Festival in August 2022.{{cite magazine |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |title=Locarno Film Festival Lineup Includes Brad Pitt's 'Bullet Train' |date=July 6, 2022 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/locarno-film-festival-lineup-brad-pitt-bullet-train-1235175694/amp/ |access-date=October 9, 2022}}

Reception

=Critical response=

{{RT prose|{{RT data|score}}|{{RT data|average}}|{{RT data|count}}|No need to fasten your seatbelts; alleged thriller Paradise Highway leads a talented ensemble through a predictable, seat-numbing ride.|ref=yes|access-date=2024-03-03}} {{MC film|48|5|ref=yes|access-date=2024-03-03}}

Joe Leydon of Variety called the film "A shrewdly constructed melodrama that does not transcend cliches and conventions so much as show how useful and effective they can be in the right hands".{{cite magazine |title='Paradise Highway' Review: Juliette Binoche and Newcomer Hala Finley Are On the Road and On the Run In a Solidly Crafted Thriller |magazine=Variety |last=Leydon |first=Joe |date=July 28, 2022 |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/paradise-highway-review-1235327914/ |access-date=2022-10-09}} Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com wrote: "Paradise Highway is the kind wayward, tonally muddled project an actress the caliber of Binoche would only sign onto if promises were broken and payback was required".{{cite web |last=Daniels |first=Robert |title=Paradise Highway |website=RogerEbert.com |date=July 29, 2022 |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/paradise-highway-movie-review-2022 |access-date=October 9, 2022}} The New York Times{{'}}s Concepción de León had this to say about Paradise Highway: "Though it is refreshing to see members of law enforcement focused on recovering and supporting a victim rather than pursuing her abusers, it does not allow for much narrative tension".{{cite news |first=Concepción |last=de León |title='Paradise Highway' Review: A Test of Loyalty |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 28, 2022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/movies/paradise-highway-review.html |access-date=October 9, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}

=Box office=

Paradise Highway was released direct-to-video and streaming services in North America, but did earn $222,607 at the box office in other territories.{{Cite Box Office Mojo |access-date=2024-03-03}}