Page 35 - Exotic | May 2024

experience that Swayze’s version had; we’re watching his first bouncer gig ever, with no training at all. Everything makes sense when you frame it that way. In the original, Dalton was known throughout the Eastern United States at least; the owner of the Double Deuce traveled to New York to recruit him to work in Mis- souri because of his reputation as a bouncer. I always thought it was weird that a bouncer would be known that far and wide just as a bouncer, but Gyllenhaal’s Dalton is a UFC fighter. It makes way more sense that he’s already known for his UFC career, and people take an interest when they learn what he’s been up to since he stopped fighting.
Without giving away too much, a mid-credits scene sets up the possibility of a sequel, and that opens up some really cool op- portunities. What, you may ask, am I hoping to see in the next movie? Okay then...since you asked! Picture this: Dalton, having figured out that five grand a week is a pretty sweet deal, has done a few more jobs since the Florida gig. At the end of the night, at his most current job, a dude (I’m picturing either Jeff Bridges or Kurt Russell playing said dude, but feel free to picture whoever you want) introduces himself to Dalton as a bouncer at one of the other bars in town. He tells Dalton something to the effect of, “I heard about you, so I came here to see you work. I’ve been doing this a long time, and you’re a hell of a fighter, kid, but you’re a shit bouncer. Let me teach you a thing or two. Name’s Wade Garrett.”
I want to see them make a trilogy out of it. There’s a whole lot of room for Dalton’s character development between the events at the cleverly named Road House in Florida and the Double Deuce in Missouri. Jake Gyllenhaal has spoken about his respect and admiration for Patrick Swayze, which leaves me optimistic that if they do turn Road House into a whole movie franchise, they’ll do right by the character and let us see him grow into the top- notch bouncer who made the original Dalton so legendary. I’m just hoping the success of this new version doesn’t embolden some asshole to remake Ghost.
Nate Hazen is a bouncer, movie buff, and writer, with aspirations to become a TV creator and screenwriter. He works as Head of Security at X Exotic Lounge. Come see him on the job between Wednesday and Saturday and chat him up about Road House. He’ll give you free cover if you show up ready to discuss which of Swayze’s bouncer rules Gyllenhaal obeyed and which rules he didn’t.
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