This film is presented by St. Louis’s long-running cult film series Strange Brew — winner of the 2025 A-List Award for Best Movie Night in St. Louis. Strange Brew programmer Jon Scorfina will provide an introduction.

Charlie Sheen stars as a wrongly-convicted prison escapee named Jack Hammond who accidentally kidnaps wealthy heiress Natalie Voss (Kristy Swanson) while trying to flee the police in the underrated action comedy film The Chase (1994). As Jack tries to escape down a southern California highway to Mexico, an elaborate car chase unfolds fueled by a manic tabloid reporter trying desperately to capture the story. Soon Jack is being pursued by cops being filmed for a documentary, crazed paparazzi and bonehead vigilantes looking to be TV stars.

The Chase is nearly all car chase for its entire run time. It was a modest success during its original release in March 1994, capitalizing on the popularity of the action and car chase genres during the decade. The soundtrack features high-adrenaline tracks from SoCal punk bands NOFX, The Offspring, Bad Religion and Rollins Band, and is a great encapsulation of ’94 punk right as it was breaking into the mainstream.

Coincidentally, the film gained renewed attention later that year when O.J. Simpson was infamously chased down the Los Angeles freeway in his White Bronco by the L.A.P.D. all while being filmed by a news helicopter. 

The Chase would go on to garner a cult following for its satire on tabloid media and cop TV shows, as well as for its cameos from alternative rock luminaries Henry Rollins as over-enthusiastic police officer Dobbs and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis and Flea as monster truck driving vigilantes Will and Dale. 

A 1994 Punk Music Video Pre-Show will start at 6:30 pm.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.