A mysterious black car appears from nowhere in the desert, and immediately sets its sights on killing two cyclists. Soon after, a hitchhiker is the next victim and the local police force is alerted. As the car stalks and kills more, it begins to become apparent that the law has more on its hands than a reckless driver, especially when it seems that the vehicle may be driverless...
Yes, it was going to happen at some point, and the devil appeared in automotive form in The Car. Daft but fun, it plays like a 70's TV movie (albeit a superior one) writ large in Panavision. It isn't that surprising once you consider that most of the cast were familiar TV regulars, reliable performers like James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, R.G. Armstrong and John Marley. Meanwhile, the crew were mostly under contract to Universal and were more commonly to be found working on their shows of the period like Columbo, MacMillan & Wife or The Rockford Files as well their "Movie Of The Week" strand for US television.
The surprising overseas theatrical success of Steven Spielberg's made-for-TV Duel (1971) must have played a part in The Car getting the green light, but so too may Jaws (1975). It's worth remembering that Universal had been considering pulling out of theatrical production entirely to focus on TV, before that killer shark kick-started the modern phenomenon of the blockbuster movie as we know it. It wasn't long before every Hollywood studio was throwing cash at the kind of films AIP used to knock out in days for a fraction of the cost.
Whilst The Car doesn't quite boast the same production values as some of its contemporaries, it does feature some neat stunts and effects. Light on the gore, the attacks by the driverless vehicle are well staged, and there are some genuinely impressive moments. Director Eliot Silverstein (A Man Called Horse, Cat Ballou) keeps things mostly in high gear, although a couple of earlier scenes do feel like padding. In fact, almost as if it was originally intended to fit a 2-hour TV slot with commercials...
Ultimately, The Car sets out to entertain you for 96 minutes, and this it does in style. It's not the "bad" movie some would have you believe. Indeed, as John Landis points out in one of the blu-ray's extras, none other than Guillermo Del Toro is such a fan of the film that he had an exact replica of the vehicle built, in which he can be spotted driving around California...
Blu-Ray Notes - Another fine release from Arrow Films, and a nice HD transfer. Extras are a director's commentary, effects featurette, interview with actor John Rubenstein, plus John Landis discussing the trailer.
USA 1977 - Universal
96 Minutes
Certificate - 12 (UK), AA (UK original release)
Blu-Ray/DVD: Arrow Films (UK)
Original Theatrical Trailer
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