The Car (1977)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Elliot Silverstein

Writers:

Michael Butler (screenplay)
Michael Butler (story)

Release Date:

13 May 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no way to stop... THE CAR

Plot:

A sleek, possessed car terrorizes everyone it comes in contact with.

Plot Keywords:

Small Town | Supernatural | Cult Horror | Animate Car | Cult Favorite

Cast

James Brolin	...	Wade Parent
Kathleen Lloyd	...	Lauren
John Marley	...	Everett
R.G. Armstrong	...	Amos Clements
John Rubinstein	...	John Morris
Elizabeth Thompson	...	Margie
Roy Jenson	...	Ray Mott
Kim Richards	...	Lynn Marie
Kyle Richards	...	Debbie
Kate Murtagh	...	Miss McDonald
Robert Phillips	...	Metcalf
Doris Dowling	...	Bertha
Henry O'Brien	...	Chas
Eddie Little Sky	...	Denson
Lee McLaughlin	...	Marvin Fats

Also Known As:

DeathMobile (Canada: English title) (video title)
Wheels (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | 4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | UK:12 | UK:AA (original rating) (1977) | Spain:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:15 (video premiere) | Norway:16 (theater release) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Glen Canyon, Utah, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

According to a 1977 interview with James Brolin, the working title of the film was "Wheels".

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The dispatcher says the car has been spotted heading "north on Interstate 12". Even-numbered Interstate highways run east-west, and Interstate 12 is entirely within the state of Louisiana, running along the north side of Lake Ponchartrain.

Quotes:

Everett: [addressing his officers] So look... I want everybody out on the streets. I want you to remember... a young man was killed today, passing through our town... and I don't like it... I don't like it at all. Goodbye.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Soundtrack:

Dies Irae, Dies Illa

Thriller tale of a sadistic, killer car who hunts anyone.

I've seen "The Car" several times over the years. I am a big fan of horror movies and while this is not exactly a "classic" by any means, I still enjoyed it. The plot is basically a car which drives around a desert town killing everyone/anyone it can. In these types of movies, you tend to enjoy watching and choosing who becomes the victims. I found the acting to be a little trying at times. In fact, at times, very bad. I mean, having two actors scream at each other (in one scene) does not create tension, it creates confusion. I like James Brolin in this film and John Marley as well, even though he didn't have much to do.

The star of the movie is "The Car". What I did not enjoy about the film was as a viewer I did not know anything about the car. Where did it come from? Why was it there? Was it the devil? A demon? I wanted to know more about this killing machine. I found that by the end of the film I was still a little confused. Also, I think this movie was a rip-off of the TV thriller released back in 1974, "Killdozer". The tale about a killer bulldozer terrorizing a construction crew. Possibly one of the worst ever made TV movies. The Car was much, much better. I remember seeing "The Car" at the movies. I think it stayed for about a week. Needless to say, the movie was a bomb. However, that does not mean it was a bad movie. There aren't very many horror movies that are a big success at the movie theatre. I think they tend to be more successful on video.

It's a shame that this movie wasn't more successful because I was looking forward to a sequel. Who knows, maybe they'll release "The Car 2" or "Son of Car". All that being said, take my advice, rent this movie. Pull up a chair, put the lights on low, snuggle beside your favorite person (wife, etc.), grab some munchies and, no matter what you do, make sure you keep that remote in your hand at all times.

Sit back and enjoy!