If you like dysfunctional and disturbing this is the book for you! Back Roads deals with some thorny thematic material, and Pettyfer handles it with a refreshing lack of sensationalism. Epicene star Alex Pettyfer takes the lead role and makes a fair fist of directing the film. Posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 by Marshall Shaffer. I think it is important to be aware before you go into this film that it is most definitely a drama and not really a thriller. Maybe not even his mom but "a" mom, any mom. You come out of "Back Roads" feeling more familiar with the configuration of Sally Field's spinal column and chestbone than the character she's struggling to embody. I liked the character of Harley, even if he was kind of an ass most of the time, and kinda crazy the rest of the time. While her husband and kids are right freakin' there, right in the house, like 30ft away! It's the car accident on the side of the freeway at which you can't help but stare. I think psychos should be locked up, why should tax payer dollars go to pay for them to get therapy? Tawni O'Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of Fragile Beasts, Sister Mine, Coal Run, and Back Roads, which was an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. In fact, they're often icky endings. If you decide to read this book, brace yourself, seriously, the Altmyer's are fucked up. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. The family drama seemingly simmering on the backburner reaches a full boil while Harley indulges his sexual impulses. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Back Roads is a haunting film about how trauma makes us strangers to ourselves, warping our emotions and resetting our internal compasses. Logo Concept by: Illumination Ink. So, the fact that he was freaking out and running away kinda bothered me, as the shrink never really pursued the matter, she just waited for him to come back the next month. It's a super slow burn. Especially the crazy stuff going on in his family. I really feel that I wasted my time watching this movie. Juliette Lewis, as the family’s martyr/murderer, still grieving for the loss of her loved ones from behind bars, is superb — you look at her and feel the spiritual chill of the landscape etched into her skin. Finished it in 2 days because I could not put it down. I asked her if I could meet her someplace so she could sign the books (I bought two more copies, one for my best friend and another for my daughter's teacher). When he was still just a teen himself, Harley was compelled to take over caring for his three younger sisters after their mother (Juliette Lewis) was sent to prison for murdering their abusive father. I don't know, I know if I would've been in his shoes, I wouldn't have acted anything like the way he did.