Official Synopsis:
“Fasten your seatbelts for the terrifying thrill ride that has become a cult classic! The peaceful tranquility of a small Western town is disturbed when a murderous car wreaks havoc by viciously mowing down innocent victims. The new sheriff, Wade Parent (James Brolin, The Amityville Horror), may be the only one who can stop this menace in its tracks. But what Wade Parent doesn’t realize is that the driver of this indestructible vehicle is far more dangerous than any man… because it is driven by pure evil.”
Although the premise seems a bit outlandish, The Car takes you on a thrill ride you won’t soon forget!
This film boasts an impressive cast with superb acting throughout the entire film. In fact, that quality of everything is much higher than one would expect from a film about an evil car. The cinematography is very impressive, using the vast open landscape of the desert as an integral part of the story. The soundtrack is by far one of the best parts of this film, creating a sense of dread any time you hear it.
One of the most terrifying aspects of this film is the fact that the car has no motive or reason to kill. It is like instinct, driving around killing anything it can. We are also not given any details or explanations on the car or its origins. What little we are given only adds to the mystery about it. It can’t enter hallowed ground, bullets seem to bend around it, even at point blank range, and a warning from an old Navaho woman of the evil that has been brought by the wind. In the special features, the director explains that he fought for the majority of the film to take place at night, because in his mind everything is indeed scarier at night, but he was overruled by the studio. For this film, I have to argue the opposite. It is easy to think that you are safe during the day, and that evil cannot lurk in the sunlight. Finding how vulnerable you are in the safety of the light, even if you can see it coming from miles away (literally in the case of this film), really brings a whole new level of terror.
High off the success of Jaws, the studio wanted The Car to be “Jaws on land”. You can only do so much with a car chasing people down, but they really get creative and it never feels stale. I for one had a blast watching it, and highly recommend picking this up.
Video
The Car is presented in 1080p 2.35:1. This is a gorgeous transfer for the age of the film. The image is consistently clear throughout the majority of the film, with only a few moments of grain in some of the darker scenes.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo. The 5.1 sounds amazing, and was my favorite aspect of the film. It powerfully delivers the score, and makes use of the surrounds and the subwoofer when the car blares the horn.
Special Features
Scream Factory doesn’t disappoint with a great set of special features. These include:
Interview with Director Elliot Silverstein
Interview with Geraldine Keams
Interview with Melody Thomas Scott
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spot
Radio Spots
Still Gallery
Scream Factory continues to bring us cult classic films and introduces them to a new generation. The Car rightfully takes its place among them and should be viewed by all!