Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Jack Hammond is sentenced to life in prison, but manages to escape. To get away from the police he takes a girl as hostage and drives off in her car. The girl happens to be the only daughter of one of the richest men in the state. In a while the car chase is being broadcast live on every TV-channel.
The Chase (1994) is a lightweight, self-aware B-movie that leans into its single-location gimmick — nearly the entire film takes place inside a speeding car — which gives it a modest novelty edge and a certain scrappy charm. The media-satire angle (live TV coverage of the chase) adds a layer that was timely for the era. However, the plot is thin and predictable, the acting from Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson is serviceable at best, and the cinematography is functional rather than inspired. The ending wraps things up in a forgettable, crowd-pleasing fashion without any real surprise or resonance. It earns its cult curiosity status but remains firmly a below-average film in most measurable categories.