Movie review: The Car

Although the movie’s premise is similar to Duel – a mysterious truck (or car), possibily driven by the devil, embarks on a motiveless killing spree – The Car was more heavily influenced by another Spielberg film. Critics who called this film “Jaws on four wheels” were spot on.

Police in Utah are baffled by a series of deadly hit and run attacks carried out by a sinister black car (in reality a lightly modified Lincoln Continental Mark III, a ropey old luxury barge created when Ford President Lee Iacocca demanded a “Rolls Royce grille on a Thunderbird”).

After the satanic saloon kills the town sheriff, it’s up to new lawman Wade Parent, played by 70s action man James Brolin, (better known these days as Josh Brolin’s dad) to stop the mayhem by slamming the brakes on the Car.

Despite a police blockade on every road in and out of the town the car seems to be able to come and go as it pleases. Bullets bounce off the windshield, no one sits behind the wheel and there are no handles on the doors.

The only place safe from the kill-crazy car is the consecrated ground of the local cemetery. In one memorable scene the car screams round and round the burial ground kicking up a dust storm as Brolin’s girlfriend hurls insults at it.

Directed by Elliot Silverstein, best known for the comedy western Cat Ballou, The Car has the look and feel of a 1970s made-for-TV movie. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – after all, Duel started life as an ABC movie of the week – but gore hounds will be disappointed by the fact there’s no bloody pay-off from the, err, on-screen car-nage.

Silverstein obviously had a higher budget than a made for telly movie, though, and he spent it wisely. The car crashes through houses and – in the movie’s best stunt sequence – deliberately barrel rolls into a couple of oncoming police cruiser. The Utah desert looks great in this high definition release and the view from inside the car (accomplished with coloured filters) is suitably creepy. If the score (by TV veteran Loenard Rosenman) sounds familiar that’s because you watch too many horror movies (it’s the same classical piece used in Kubrick’s The Shining). Sadly, James Brolin (who once screen tested to replaced Roger Moore as 007) is no Dennis Weaver, although his outrageous moustache is authentically 70s cool.

Nevertheless, The Car is something of a guilty pleasure for fans of 70s horror and this Blu Ray release from Arrow Films is the best it has ever been. Better, in fact, than when I saw The Car at the cinema on a double-bill with Sweeney 2 (those were the days).

Arrow is to be congratulated for assembling so many extras for such a relatively obscure title. Standouts include an audio commentary track by Silverstein and an interview with special effects artist William Alridge about the making of the car and the excellent stunt work.

So strap yourself in for a thrill-ride – The Car is roaring into high definition at a bargain price. Lovers of 70s grindhouse movies, classic American automobiles and cheesy acting will have a blast.

• The Car is out now on Arrow Video Blu-Ray priced £13.99.