Chattanooga FF: Off Ramp: Getting to True Juggalo

MOVIE INFO:

A couple of lovable, degenerate Juggalos must sojourn through America’s hellish underbelly to The Gathering of the Juggalos, the one place on earth they feel accepted

REVIEW:

What makes Off Ramp so enjoyable to watch is its twisted take on Deliverance, the backwood revenge story that features every racist hillbilly assumption and stereotype. The villains in Off Ramp are the bigoted sheriff deputy and the politician running for reelection as county sheriff. The heroes are a pair of social misfts who adopted juggalo culture– devoted fans of Insane Clowne Posse and the entire Psychopathic Records label. All the evil clown makeup and hand signs, the spider legs dreadlocks, the Hatchet Gear clothing , tattoos, the brand’s logo on everything, the addiction to everything horrorcore related is more of a style choice than it is an actual philosophy of violence. Sure there are isolated extremist who overdo it, but they are the minority. The rest rather drink assorted flavors of Faygo and chill to their music and whoop whoop calls. The label even sued to get the assorted fan clubs removed from the FBIs terrorist/violent gang lists.

That collision between juggalo perception and reality forms the second part of the Deliverance comparisons. Purging the bad elements of the juggalo lifestyle is important in establishing a true family and identity for the main characters Trey (Jon Oswald) and his bff Silas (Scott Turner). It’s the whole point of the movie- that found juggalo family is often more loving than blood family. Silas, the more adherent of the two has his hot temper moments but also cares for his nonverbal meemaw. Trey, loves the style but not the crime and is determined to stay out of prison by avoiding even the appearance of crime. Eden (Ashley Smith), another juggalo trapped by an abusive criminal boss will be the means to add the mother and child portion of family. But first must come the purge of evil and the maturing of Silas to suitable co-fathering material.

Off Ramp exists in alternating disturbing and sweet plot cycles. Trouble with the law is followed by 20 minutes of bff bonding. Trouble with Eden followed by more bonding. Resolution of Sheriff headaches. Bonding. Resolution with bad family. Bonding, followed by family, adopted baby, and three dogs to make this new community complete. The tonal shift are all true to the rhythms of the music they listen to.

Of course, the soundtrack is stacked with Insane Clown Posse classics and other Psychopathic favorites. Rick G. Nelson’s score subtly weaves them into a tapestry of synth and electronic music. The cinematography of Bron Moyi makes even the violent scenes a joy to look at. It’s always crisp and gorgeous. Off Ramp light exudes a joyous cozy reality that it aspires to, and in the end achieves. The film stumbles through violence, to wisdom, to something resembling juggalo heaven. It achieves its own odd and unique beauty.