Image courtesy of Universal Pictures |
Christine had Arnie. High Hopes had Ronnie. Chucky had Tiffany, but The Car runs his own show.
This action-packed supernatural nugget has largely been under the radar since its release in 1977, which is a damn shame, because it is a thrilling retro nightmare of fire and rubber.
Starring the iconic James Brolin (The Amityville Horror, 1979) as recently divorced sheriff Wade Parent, the film introduces us to a small desert town in Thomas County, California. Sheriff Parent and his officers have little more than the occasional domestic violence case to deal with and they keep busy with hunting permits and the odd speed ticket. However, their rather eventless town life suddenly gets hit by a slew of unexplained road murders of brutal carnage.
When two cyclists are run off the road and a hitchhiker getsflattened by a mysterious car for absolutely no reason, the town is suddenly possessed by fear and it is up to the sheriff and his men to locate it and its apparently demented driver. The only problem is that it is nowhere to be found until it appears out of nowhere – to kill.
The Car is a typical 70s mystery horror film that successfully mixes the coolness of the muscle car era with the eerie elements of supernatural invincibility reminiscent of occult lore. In fact, the townspeople soon learn that the black V8 with the diabolical roar is practically indestructible as its rampage wreaks havoc without even leaving a dent. It has no visible driver and seems to have an intelligence, even spite, while seeking out its victims. That is what makes The Car so exciting. It never reveals the reason for or nature of its presence, leaving the audience to make their own assumptions.
What makes this film a delight for motorheads and horror fanatics alike is the titular character, a souped up 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III black coupe. It was especially customizedto appear more threatening and sinister by famed Hollywood car customizer George Barris (responsible for the 1966 Batmobile TV car) who produced several of these cars with which the effects team could run amuck.
Directed by Elliot Silverstein (Tales from the Crypt, Twilight Zone and A Man Called Horse, among others), The Car boasts some insane and amazing stunt work we don’t see much these days. Yes, the story is simple, the dialogue cheesy and the general critical opinion lukewarm, but for lovers of 70s road horror films it is more than satisfying. Not to mention thesurreptitious winks at satanic elements underlying the production of The Car, such as its quaint inability to drive onto hallowed ground.
For a man-versus-machine thrill with touches of brute evil the likes of The Hearse and Christine, The Car holds its own with a combination of fast-paced chases and quiet moments of impending trepidation that does not disappoint. Its unstoppable nature and befuddling existence is a fun ride that revs up the destruction in its wake until its infernal climax. Don’t expect the intensity of Death Proof, but enjoy The Car for the demonic machine that it is.
—Tasha Danzig