Rest Stop (2019)
A tense 18-minute Australian short thriller adapted from a Stephen King story about one man's moral crossroads at a highway rest stop.
Rest Stop - Movie Information
- Release Year: 2019
- Directed by: Mark Zimmerman
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Thriller
- Runtime: 18m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Production Companies: Penigma Pictures
- Production Countries: Australia
Rest Stop - Plot
After a long drive from a writers meeting, John Dykstra needs a bathroom break. He stops by a highway Rest stop and overhears in the ladies room domestic abuse. He must make the decision if he should intervene or not.
Rest Stop - Trailer
See the tension unfold in the official trailer for Rest Stop:
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Rest Stop - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Mark Zimmerman
Main Cast
- Brad Heffernan
- Sontaan Hopson
- Hareth Tayem
- Leighton Cardno
- Victoria Ferrara
Writers
- Stephen King
- Mark Zimmerman
Producers
- Mark Zimmerman
- James Peniata
Rest Stop - FAQs
What is Rest Stop (2019) about?
Rest Stop follows John Dykstra, a writer who pulls over at a highway rest stop and overhears what sounds like domestic abuse coming from the ladies' room. The film zeroes in on his moral dilemma: step in and risk confrontation, or drive away and do nothing. It's a tense, compact thriller about conscience and courage.
Is Rest Stop based on a Stephen King story?
Yes! Rest Stop is adapted from a Stephen King short story as part of the Dollar Baby program, which allows independent filmmakers to license King's short works for a nominal fee. Mark Zimmerman co-wrote the screenplay alongside King's source material, making this an official — if little-known — entry in the King adaptation canon.
What is a Dollar Baby film?
A Dollar Baby is a short film made under Stephen King's informal licensing arrangement, where he allows student or independent filmmakers to adapt his short stories for just one dollar. The films can't be commercially distributed without further permission, making them rare, passion-driven projects that often surface at festivals or online.
Who directed Rest Stop (2019)?
Rest Stop was directed by Mark Zimmerman, who also co-wrote the script and produced the film through Penigma Pictures in Australia. Zimmerman wears multiple hats on this project, making it a genuinely personal, independent production built around a tight moral premise and a lean 18-minute runtime.
Who are the main actors in Rest Stop?
The cast is led by Brad Heffernan as John Dykstra, the writer caught in the moral dilemma at the center of the story. He's joined by Sontaan Hopson, Hareth Tayem, Leighton Cardno, and Victoria Ferrara. It's a small ensemble that keeps the focus tight and the tension personal throughout the film's brief runtime.
How long is Rest Stop (2019)?
Rest Stop runs just 18 minutes, making it a short film rather than a feature. That brevity is part of its power — the story doesn't overstay its welcome, building tension efficiently and leaving the moral weight of its central dilemma with the viewer long after the credits roll.
Where was Rest Stop (2019) filmed?
Rest Stop was produced in Australia by Penigma Pictures, making it an Australian production despite being adapted from an American author's work. The highway rest stop setting gives the film a universal, stripped-back quality — the kind of roadside anonymity that could belong to almost any country.
What are similar films to Rest Stop (2019)?
If Rest Stop's tense, confined premise appeals to you, check out Curve (2016), a claustrophobic survival thriller, or In the Tall Grass (2019), another Stephen King Dollar Baby-adjacent story. The Good Neighbor (2022) and Locked (2025) also explore moral tension in isolated settings with a similarly lean, suspenseful approach.
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