Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby

Plot synopsis:
Crystal "White Girl" Van Meter is a 15-year-old prostitute who is sentenced to 25 years for a long list of crimes which include beating up and robbing johns. Transferred to a minimum security hospital to seek treatment for bulimia, White Girl teams up with Angela "Cyclona" Garcia, a lesbian teenage serial killer. Together, they escape from the hospital, despite White Girl injuring herself on a barbed-wire fence. Cyclona is convinced her beloved Sister Gomez can help "White Girl" with her eating disorder and they head to Tijuana. On the way, Cyclona murders a family and has sex with the dead bodies. "White Girl" is not happy that Cyclona has stopped taking her meds and insists she continue to take occasional doses should they continue together. They steal the family's car and make their way south. On the way, Cyclona reveals how Sister Gomez saved her from being molested by her father and possibly aliens. After drinking one too many beers and huffing some paint, they crash and fall down a hill laughing.
Undaunted, the two fugitives catch a ride on a freight train only to be assaulted by a transient crack addict. Cyclona kills him to protect White Girl, and the two make off with his bag of crack and guns. Venturing into the woods, they leave a trail of crack which is picked away by shady men with crow feathers on their hats. Lost and confused, they make it to the border only to have a stand-off with two customs officials, both of whom Cyclona kills. "White Girl" violently pistol-whips Cyclona and after making her point, the two race to the suburbs of Tijuana.
In Tijuana, Crystal/White Girl makes money by luring men to dark alleys on the promise of a good time, and mugging them. Cyclona and White Girl check into a run-down motel where they have a moment with beer, a shower and a vibrating bed. White Girl finally gives into Cyclona's sexual advances toward her and the two of them engage in some rampant lesbian sex.
After a few days, the two lovers find a poster that shows Sister Gomez is in town. Sister Gomez appears to be a Catholic/spiritualist healer; Cyclona is very keen that they visit her, for Sister Gomez has protected her from abuse in the past, and might be able to help them. They visit Sister Gomez at her gaudy mission house. Sister makes an enormous roast feast for her "little movie star" (Cyclona) and the friend "with the hungry demon" (Crystal), referring to her bulimia. Cyclona then disappears as White Girl is forced to work for Sister Gomez in the same way as she has been doing, in exchange for food. Finally, Crystal grows weary and makes her way to the basement, where she finds small children in a bondage room with a U.F.O shaped lantern. There is blood everywhere. Cyclona is hanging half-nude in a bondage style contraption. She tells Crystal that Sister Gomez made her watch while she chopped up children and made food out of them. She reveals that her ultimate plan for Crystal was to fatten her up with the meat of the children, and then, serve Crystal up for dinner as well. Crystal concludes that Sister Gomez is the witch-leader of a bizarre cult that rapes and eats children and then sells the child porn videos, protected by the front of a Catholic mission. Ready to deliver justice, White Girl/Crystal frees Cyclona and kills all the cult members; she also reveals Sister Gomez to be a rather well-endowed man. Not succumbing to bullets, Gomez is thrown in the oven. Burning, Gomez screams of his 100,000 years of terror and the revenge from his father Jupiter that will ensue. Crystal, keeping a promise made earlier, is forced to kill Cyclona in a tearful scene rather than allow her to be captured. Cyclona, wishing to leave behind a life of abuse and violence, hopes to be reincarnated as an eagle (we discover that Sister Gomez was her earliest abuser). White Girl makes a deal with the federales and leaves with her lawyer/pimp, stating "I'm not hungry anymore."

Tags: comedy, fantasy, cult, flashback, psychedelic, satire

Review:
Everything you could want in a motion picture -- Matthew Brite, in my opinion, has created a superior film to his first "Freeway" picture.
to give you an idea of exactly how over the top this movie is heres some of the key elements present:bulimia/vomiting lesbianism amputees necrophilia serial murder transvestitism child abuse/torture cannibalism prostitution drugs (crack, huffing paint, drinking in the shower)if you like that sort of thing i can practically guarantee this will become one of your favorite movies ever.
Natasha lyonne gives easily her best, funniest performance and any fan of her work should stop at nothing to seek this out (although its not easy).
This movie was soo twisted I couldn't help myself...I couldn't stop watching...I hate the friggin title since it has NOTHING to do with the movie, but I've never seen anything like it...I loved the Hanzel and Gretel twist...Natasha Lyonne has become one of my fav actresses...A must see!!!...I cannot believe I completely lived my life for three years without knowing this movie even existed....
The first movie retold Little Red Riding Hood, this  one takes on Hansel and Gretel.
Natasha Lyonne is no Reese Witherspoon,  but her spunky role here as White Girl, and her memorable turn in the  forgotten gem 'Slums Of Beverly Hills' proves that she is more talented  than lame-brained crud like the 'American Pie' series and 'Detroit Rock  City'.
Matthew Bright's unique retelling of the Brothers Grimm's Hansel and Gretel is a twisted, violent, shocking and entertaining film which takes the 'road movie' concept and injects it with class-A hallucinogenics.
The result is a lurid nightmare tale of prostitutes, serial killers, cannibalism and paedophilia.Natasha Lyonne shows she is capable of far more than just teen comedies by starring as White Girl, a bulimic teenager who poses as a whore in order to savagely attack and rob her 'tricks'.
Sent to prison for 25 years, she befriends Cyclona (María Celedonio), a psychologically fragile murderous chronic-masturbator(!) and together they escape and head for Tijuana, Mexico, where Cyclona hopes they can find sanctuary with her childhood protector, Sister Gomez (Vincent Gallo).This freakish fairy tale is certainly not for mainstream audiences, but those who dig more unusual fare should certainly get a kick from the non-stop weirdness on display.
With Bright's array of 'colourful' characters and a story that unfolds in an unpredictable fashion, the film certainly never bores.Much fun can be had spotting the parallels between this film and its source material, Hansel and Gretel.
The film uses the theme of food prevalent in the Grimm's classic story, and features an interesting take on the 'trail of breadcrumbs' and a really nasty 'witch'.A heady concoction of exploitation, art-house, action and horror, Confessions of a Trickbaby is recommended to fans of cinema's wild side, and particularly to those who enjoyed Natural Born Killers, with which it shares a similar vibe..
Out from under the watchful eye of Freeway producer Oliver Stone, Matthew Bright lets his id run wild and the results are fascinating.
Natasha Lyonne gives her best performance ever and Vincent Gallo is wonderfully insane as the wicked witch.
The Hansel 'n' Gretel references, Cyclona's assertion that all men are rapists, the violence, it was just a fun movie.
It's difficult to know how to react to oddball films like this.They're not funny enough to be called black comedies and not clever enough to be termed satires.
This movie's got it all: girls in prison, bad girls gone badder,lesbianism, miscegeny, menstruation, childhood sexual abuse, bulimia, female serial killers, necrophilia, incest, hypocrisy in religion, radical feminism, chicks who pose as hookers to beat up and rob male tricks, manifestations of sexism and racism (in a very satirical way).
Unpleasant trash that would like to think it is cool simply because it is `weird' or `different' but there is little of value here.
It has moments that are passable and the actual core plot is OK (baring in mind that the core plot, when you strip it down, is Hansel & Gretel) but it is full of such ill-judged touches that all I remember is the bad stuff.The film's tone is bad from the start - vomiting is watched with the sort of eye that feels like it is making something deliberately shocking - like a teenager trying to gross out his parents to get attention.
When Cyclona sits over two OAPs she has just butchered and masturbates with an handheld vibrator you know that this is not a film that wants to aspire beyond the gutter.In fact the whole lesbian thing is played for shock and to attract late night TV surfers.
It all feels like the director was trying to be so different that he forgot to make structure or even a good film - he too seems to be under the illusion that a `different' film will sell simply because it is weird or different.The casting continues this trend.
Lyonne is not very good in the lead - she rarely has any character to speak of and always has an attitude on her that makes it feel like she's only seconds away from saying `whateva'.
Grier as Crystal's lawyer is funny but again his character is in it for shock value and to make the film `different' - the scene where he sits in a courthouse discussing a plea while his client furiously masturbates him is the height of the humour in the film.Overall this has `cult appeal' written all over it and I think the director wanted that from the outset.
The film tires so hard to be `different' that it adds things all the time - but the end result is that it feels forced and trashy.
Watch it if you enjoy fairy tales, like "The Company of Wolfs' If you are a Tarantino fan,then you might really get the essential ideas and concepts within the bloody murders and perversions..
On the positive side, there is some great photography, especially when the girls hit Mexico, the soundtrack is fantastic and Natasha Lyonne is awesome.If you want to rent something a bit colorful, then you could do a lot worse..
If you see this film looking just for a good time, while eating popcorn, is up to you.Also, if you didn´t like anything of director Bright before, believe me, you won´t still, so is no use to write bad things about this film taking that in count.
Then why wouldn´t I like it?.The film takes elements from Hansel and Gretel, in a way different from the Coens with Oh Brother Where Art Thou.
Freeway 2: Confessions of A Trickbaby, written and directed by Matthew Bright, who in my opinion is one of the best and most underrated filmmakers working today.
Bright also wrote and directed three of my all time favorite films, 'Freeway (1996) 'Freeway 2 (1999)' and Ted Bundy (2002).
Natasha Lyonne, who played Crystal aka White Girl and María Celedonio who played Cyclona, were both fantastic as the leads, and Vincent Gallo also gave a great performance as Sister Gomez.
If your a huge fan of Matthew Bright's work, like myself, and your looking for a unique and a one of kind film, then look no further, this is a modern Exploitation masterpiece and one of the best films of 90's.
Was paced fairly well, dialogue was mostly decent (better than a lot of hit hollywood movies, anyway), and the plot gets resolved in an interesting way..
and like nothing you have ever seen before.It is a slight story, but the strength of the film lies in it's execution and the strong performances of the entire cast, especially Natasha Lyonne and Maria Celedonio.
Vincent Gallo, in his extended cameo, lives up to his reputation as the true heir to the likes of Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken - a grotesque performance par excellence.Matthew Bright's previous film Freeway was inspired by the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
This film (prefixed Freeway 2, although with no apparent connection other than the road movie theme) was inspired by the story of Hansel and Gretel.
I think this film would've been much better without the extreme efforts to seem "weird", and also without the overuse of pointless and explicit sexuality..
The picture on the DVD sleeve of a row of girls knelt before toilets ready to be sick, did not encourage me to rush to watch this and despite going for even more grossness, or maybe because of that, director Bright looses some of the tightness of the other film.
Natasha Lyonne and Maria Celedonio both work overtime to convey the horror of their characters but there is much more of the cartoon here and by the time we reach the rather drawn out end with Vincent Gallo camping it up, the tale has ground to a grubby halt and we no longer know whether to laugh or cry.
Watch Freeway first and if you don't like, steer well clear of this but if you find the first film not as strong as you were expecting, then by all means give this one a ride..
By no means would I call it a favorite, but it's just one of those movies that you cannot stop watching.
First of all, I have to say that this really isn't a sequel to 1996's Freeway; it features the same director and the plot is again loosely based on a fairy tale; but the similarities end there and I can only imagine the film has 'Freeway 2' in it's title so they didn't have to release it as just 'Confessions of a Trickbaby' (which is unlikely to appeal to anyone).
The film begins with a sequel that shows young hell raising bulimia-sufferer Crystal (better known as 'White Girl') given twenty five years for a series of minor crimes.
While inside, she meets Cyclona; a Mexican murderess; and after a bunch of scenes showing girls being sick and stuff, the pair eventually escapes and goes on the run while trying to make it to Mexico.The film is supposedly a variant on the classic fairy tale 'Hansel and Gretel' but I don't know why this was included in the film.
Natasha Lyonne takes the lead role and actually does a fairly good job.
On the face of it, this sounds like a film that will appeal to fans of wayward cinema; but it's just not very well done and I'd recommend French film Criminal Lovers instead if you want a contemporary thriller based on Hansel and Gretel..
Theres swearing..killing in weird details...huffing paint..lesbian scenes...incest...transvestites...bulimia...child porn..and even romance in this sequel...one would think it's trash..but Bright makes it all work and likeable.
This is an "escape from prison-hospital" film with a bizarre "HANSEL UND GRETEL" sub motif that falls short of greatness, because of too many scenes marred by clichés and bad puns.
A modern version of Hansel and Gretel, "Freeway 2" is the story about a locked-up homicidal lesbian, Cyclona, who escapes with a fellow bulimic inmate, Crystal (named after her mom's favourite drug) to seek help from her childhood savior, Sister Gomez (played by Vincent Gallo).
As they journey from the States to Tijuana they kill, steal, perform strange sexual acts, and, of course, have sex.I don't know what to think of this movie, it was very abnormal, but what was I expecting going to a Midnight Madness show at The Toronto Film Fest.
I like Natasha Lyonne's performance a lot (much different than her role in another film fest movie "But, I'm a Cheerleader"), and it's almost on par with Reese Witherspoon's performance in the original "Freeway".
The film, though, was not nearly as good as the original, but it had it's moments, and the gross out humour was hysterical.All in all, this is an average sequel which doesn't match the original, but is a must see for original "Freeway" fans and Natasha Lyonne fans..
Freeway II is entertaining throughout, and a movie I can watch again and again.
Like a car wreck, viewers will find themselves confused, disgusted, and asking themselves over an hour later, "What did I just watch?"  This is the kind of film that actors do because they need the money, and later wouldn't want you to see.
First off, let me say, I did enjoy the original Freeway and I liked Bright's script for GunCrazy.
I have enjoyed Natasha Lyonne's work in Slums of Beverly Hills and American Pie. At the bare minimum, this sequel ought be at least a good B-movie delight, but it isn't.
They come across Sister Gomez, (played by Vincent Gallo) a  transvestite  nun, who is an apparent savior that is going to cure Lyonne's bulimia and the cellmate's homicidal feelings.
The original film had a sympathetic character in Reese Witherspoon but  Freeway 2's Natasha Lyonne is anything but sympathetic.
It's depraved, gross, mean-spirited, and unconscionably stupid, tonally all over the map and worst of allactually kind of boring.Director Matthew Bright first came into the public eye with the release of Freeway (1996); a Reese Witherspoon helmed crime drama that subverted the tale of Red Riding Hood.
This unrelated sequel has a bulimic Natasha Lyonne and a murderous Maria Celedonio escaping from their prison-hospital and meandering towards a Hansel and Gretel parallel whereby Vincent Gallo plays their witchy tormentor.
Disgusting.Now, I'm sure some folks who liked this movie will attempt to defend it by saying that it's "dark humor" and isn't meant to be taken seriously.
I like dark humor just as much as the next person (check out the first two Sleepaway Camp films).
I know that B-movies are lacking in quality in a lot of areas (but CAN still be good).
Maybe I should see it for what it is....Nah. There's dark comedies, there's good, twisted movies out there.
If you have seen the first Freeway film (which is a re-imagining of, "Little Red Riding Hood") than you won't be disappointed by this film's re-imagining of the children's fairy tale, "Hansel and Gretel".
If you cannot purchase the DVD, I have seen scenes from the movie on youtube.com (however the quality is not as good).
This movie is unforgettable and has plenty of shocking scenes (including one disturbing sequence involving actor, Vincent Gallo that is either laugh out loud hilarious or completely disgusting depending on your taste).
'Trickbaby' is not a pretty film, and it took a while to adapt, but on second viewing, after the shock wore off, I could thoroughly enjoy "Confessions of A Trickbaby." Lyonne is f_ck%ng hilarious here, her performance is fearless; she is not afraid to be seen vomiting, or shoving food into her mouth, or to be just totally 'busted' on camera.
Though the film is sleazy and ugly at times, I found myself sympathizing with Lyonnes character, 'White Girl/Crystal'.
When the girls find 'Sister Gomez' they discover that this is not the case, in one of the most twisted and perverse endings i have seen in cinema.
It is hard to imagine, but this cranks up the sleaze level compared to Freeway, which was a fairly twisted film.
Its a quirky 'road movie'with elements of 'Bad Taste'-budget gore and twisted laughs are to be had.
There is a lot of shock value and dark humor but Natasha Lyonne is waaaayyy cool in this part as white girl.
This movie is nothing less than what I would expect from Mr. Gallo and Ms. Lyonne.
This movie is definitely not for the weak-stomached, or hate watching disturbing films.
It follows the story of a latter day Hansel & Gretel, except that in this case one is a bulimic white trash drug dealer and the other is a homeopathic mexican girl and they escape from the juvenile prison they're in to go on a killing spree.
at first, the only thing i could think about was how incredibly weird/freakin messed up this movie was, but i did like it...
Natasha Lyonne (AMERICAN PIE) and María Celedonio `SUBSITUTE' play great in there roles and make this movie what it is.
Lyonne's acting and her natural look is good for the character she plays.
And just like the first this film contains a lot of violence and gore but still stays on the comedy side.
I loved the first Freeway film with the incredible Reese Witherspoon, however, this movie was simply horrible.
She has a weird charisma about her that made me want to watch the movie.
I just think some points of the movie are too weird to understand, and I don't know what genre to put them in.
The first Freeway was a modern day telling of Little Red Riding Hood, the second one does Hansel and Gretel.
Freeway 2 is a very weird, bad film.
When underage hooker White Girl (the luscious Natasha Lyonne) meets deranged lesbian sexual psychopath serial killer Cyclona (galvanizing spitfire Maria Celedonio) in a brutal juvenile detention center, it's clear right from the start that they are a match made in bad girl hell.
Natasha Lyonne hits the Freeway.
I thought "Freeway" was going to be a B-movie extravaganza with Reese Witherspoon doing her thing as a country girl hooker.
I was hesitant to rent Freeway 2 since it had a different cast and a very different storyline, but, from reading the back of the video box it still seemed it would have the same weirdness of the original.I can't say it is a forgettable movie.
By the way, I never caught on to the "Hansel & Gretel" theme of the movie, because it didn't have as many references to the story.
I didn't like the ending much either, which is kind of a downer and didn't make a lot of sense to me (and given the nature of the film I don't think that's a >spoiler).So I will be watching Bright's next movie, but I certainly hope he'll have learnt from this one.