The Car is Back!! By Brian Kirst
“I enjoyed working with all those people,” actress Melody Thomas enthused in the early 1980’s. The people she was referring to were her co-stars in the horror films The Fury (where she played Amy Irving’s best friend, LaRue), Piranha (she was Laura, the camp counselor who actually survived) and The Car. In fact, her featured role in The Car earned her praises from none other than Stephen King. In King’s book Danse Macabre he makes special note of the chilling opening scenario in which Thomas’ Suzie is booted over a bridge to her death by the vehement title vehicle.
Indeed, this beginning sequence is only the first in a series of well thought out moments in the superior, low budget The Car. Released to theaters in May 1977, The Car at first seemed to be nothing more than just another low point in lead actor James Brolin’s career. But over the years people have begun to appreciate The Car’s spooky, character driven effectiveness and it has become a true cult hit.
Recognizing The Car’s vital points, Anchor Bay released it on DVD in the summer of 1998, but it quickly went out of print. Thankfully, the good folks at Universal recently recognized this error and have put that good old black exhaust system back into circulation. Unfortunately, besides the original trailer, there are no extras on the disc. But, ultimately, who needs special features when one has friends? Yep, The Car is a horror party waiting to happen for you and your finest acquaintances.
“Guys, guys – check it out!” – Coye Vega, fashion model extraordinaire and expert zombie wanna-be
“Awesome!” – Dan Kiggens, IMDB lord and horror film producer most excellent
“This is the best movie all day!” – Kirsten Pfeiffer, photographer supreme and mom to one super rockin’ undead baby
Indeed, those reactions may soon be yours. The Car not only features dead-on character work from Ronny Cox (Deliverance, Robocop) as an emotionally ravaged alcoholic cop and R.G. Armstrong as an emotionally abusive alcoholic explosions expert (wonder how that eventually comes in handy, huh?) – but it also contains some seriously awesome car flipping, a little bit of flying car deadliness and some wickedly juicy body squashing by angry car, too. Besides, with Elliot Silverstein’s mood enhancing direction, you can almost feel the dust caking down your throat as you watch this small desert town being haunted by this corporal metallic bad ass. So, now just might be the perfect time to gather some buddies, grab some brewskies and get down to watching – ‘cause, baby, The Car is back!
