Freeway

Vanessa Lutz is a 14-year-old girl living in a decrepit motel with her neglectful mother, Ramona. Struggling to survive in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood, their lives are plagued by poverty and despair.

Ramona battles drug addiction and engages in prostitution to make ends meet. This unhealthy environment perpetuates a cycle of trauma and neglect that impacts Vanessa deeply.

Severe complications arise when Ramona's boyfriend, Larry, begins to sexually abuse Vanessa. This traumatic experience drives Vanessa to seek a way out of her dire situation.

The situation escalates when the police perform a sting operation, arresting both Ramona and Larry. Left alone, Vanessa faces the uncertainty of being placed in foster care, a prospect she dreads.

In a moment of desperation, Vanessa handcuffs her social worker and steals her car. She bids farewell to her boyfriend, Chopper, who warns her to pawn a gun he gives her for cash.

As Vanessa drives away, tragedy strikes when Chopper becomes a target and is fatally shot. This event underscores the dangers that surround her as she attempts to escape her reality.

Vanessa's stolen car eventually breaks down on the I-5 freeway, where she meets Bob Wolverton. Initially appearing kind, Bob offers her a ride, but his true intentions remain hidden.

During dinner, Vanessa realizes Bob is the infamous 'I-5 Killer' who preys on young women. In a gripping confrontation, she challenges his predatory behavior, exhibiting an unexpected strength.

With remarkable courage, Vanessa retrieves Chopper’s gun and confronts Bob. In a dramatic climax, she shoots him, grappling with the horror and necessity of her actions.

After the confrontation, Vanessa walks into a diner covered in blood, where police quickly apprehend her. At the station, she bravely recounts her story, even as the officers doubt her.

Within juvenile detention, Vanessa encounters new challenges and forms relationships with other troubled inmates, including Rhonda and Mesquita. Tensions rise as Vanessa plots an escape from her new environment.

As the investigation into Bob's crimes deepens, a detective starts to believe Vanessa's claims while the media mischaracterizes Bob as a victim. Evidence begins to mount against Bob's dark history.

Vanessa uses her skills to disguise herself and rob a man, leading her back to her estranged grandmother. However, upon her arrival, she uncovers the horrifying truth – Bob has already murdered her grandmother.

In a fierce struggle, Vanessa ultimately kills Bob, reclaiming her power and autonomy. Upon the arrival of detectives, she finds an unexpected connection and moment of laughter amidst the chaos.

After surrendering to the arriving detectives, Vanessa shares an exhausted yet emotionally charged exchange with them. This moment leaves her with a sense of bittersweet resolution in a chaotic world.