The Car (1977)

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

"The Car" is a cool little movie that seems to have taken its inspiration from "Jaws", but replaced it with a car instead of a shark, and dusty desert roads instead of water. It's well filmed and the title vehicle looks great, with a believable aura of evil around it whenever it's on screen. The comparison with Jaws continues with the way scenes of innocent people are intercut with shots of the black shape in the distance gradually getting closer while they remain unaware of the danger they are in. All the acting is good and the characters are realisticAlthough the car itself works as a menace, what doesn't work is how easily it is able to bump people off. Two cyclists stupidly try to out-pedal it in a straight forward line rather than slow down or veer off. When the car charges into a marching band rehearsal, all of the people run in a straight line directly down the road in front of it, with not one of them leaping off to the side where there are many obstacles, such as steps and concrete blocks that would protect them. There are many deaths but nothing stronger than you would see in a made-for-TV movie - which this could easily be if it wasn't for the wise, Panavision aspect ratio (which works well).The car's stunts get more outrageous as the movie goes on, culminating in a pretty cool showdown. Although it's a little too long, it's enjoyable for most of the time.

This movie was great back in the day I think it came on TV around every Halloween. It may have been the first Horror movie I ever seen. I've sowed it to my kids when they were younger and they liked it. It's not top in the F/X dept but that's what makes some movies so good some movies just over due the F/X.

Owing much to the popular 'road movies' of the 1970's such as Vanishing Point, Death Race 2000 and, in particular, Steven Spielberg's Duel, Elliot Silverstein's The Car also takes its influence from another Spielberg movie, Jaws. Released in 1975, Jaws killed it at the box office as well as terrifying its audience members, and Universal was keen to replicate this formula, only this time on land. Spielberg played with people's fear of sharks and the unknown beasts lurking in the water, so what ignites the same kind of terror and has people fleeing for their lives on land? Cars, apparently, and here a small town in the deserts of New Mexico is stalked by a demonic Lincoln Continental.Following the murder of two cyclists rammed off the road and a young hitchhiker crushed after insulting the passing vehicle, reports flood into the sheriff's office of an aggressive black car with apparently no driver. Sheriff Everett (John Marley) calls out for road-blocks to surround the town, but neighbouring areas never see the car enter or arrive. Chief Deputy Wade Parent (James Brolin) is having to deal with the issue of introducing his girlfriend Lauren (Kathleen Lloyd) to his daughters as a permanent member of the household, but this becomes the least of his problems when he finds himself placed in charge of saving his town from the unstoppable automobile.The similarities to Jaws are numerous and The Car was universally panned upon release for being little more than a rip-off without any of Spielberg's technical mastery. However, the years have been kind to The Car and it comes across now as a rather charming slice of 70's exploitation. Although the premise is ridiculous and without explanation, it takes itself quite seriously, and the titular Lincoln proves itself to be an intimidating foe at times. There is also a surprising amount of attention given to the colourful supporting characters, including Marley as the ageing sheriff with a still- burning love for a domestically abused childhood sweetheart, and a recovering alcoholic cop played by Ronny Cox. A fun if forgettable little movie, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I remember seeing "The Car" as a kid many years ago on the old Sci-fi Channel, and although I didn't get a chance to see again for a number of years, I never forgot it. The plot is pretty simple one, a killer car stalks a small town in the southwest, killing whoever is unlucky enough to come across its path. Nobody knows where it came from or who or what is driving it, only that it strikes without warning and no one is ever able to get a look at the driver because, as you can probably guess, there is none! Made in 1977, "The Car" is arguably one of the best of the killer car/vehicle genre. True, the plot might sound cheesy if someone described it to you. And yet, like a number of horror films made back in the day, there's something about the film that makes the plot believable, that what you're seeing is possible, distantly perhaps, but possible none the less. A big reason for this is due to the level of acting. All of the actors take their parts seriously, be it James Brolin as the deputy sheriff who must lead the fight against the car after his boss is killed by the black fiend, or RG Armstrong as wife beater Amos who also just happens to be guy to go to if you want some explosives, or Ronny Cox as Brolin's friend on the force and one who struggles with alcoholism. Then there's director Elliot Sliverstein, who does a commendable job of pacing the story while making us feel a little something for the characters. But none of this would matter if it weren't for the real star of the show, the car itself. Designed by car customizer legend George Barris, the car has a sleek, sinister look to it, something that might not look out of place on the road but at the same time, you can tell it didn't roll off the line at General Motors! It all makes a fun, entertaining combination to watch on a Friday night or in the month of October. Like the poster said, "Is it a phantom, a demon, or the devil himself!" I don't know, but whatever it is, it's something that you won't forget. So watch and enjoy the little wonder that is "The Car". Honk honk!