Race with the Devil (1975)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Jack Starrett

Writers:

Wes Bishop (writer)
Lee Frost (writer)

Release Date:

June 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

If you're going to race with the devil, you've got to be as fast as Hell!

Plot:

Two couples vacationing together in an R.V. from Texas to Colorado are terrorized after they witness a murder during a Satanic ritual.

Plot Keywords:

Vacation | Cult Film | Survival Horror | Gothic | Cult Horror

Cast

Peter Fonda	...	Roger Marsh
Warren Oates	...	Frank Stewart
Loretta Swit	...	Alice Stewart
Lara Parker	...	Kelly Marsh
R.G. Armstrong	...	Sheriff Taylor
Clay Tanner	...	Delbert
Carol Blodgett	...	Ethel Henderson
Phil Hoover	...	Mechanic
Ricci Ware	...	Ricci Ware
Paul A. Partain	...	Cal Mathers
James N. Harrell	...	Gun Shop Owner
Karen Miller	...	Kay
Arkey Blue	...	Arkey Blue
Jack Starrett	...	Gas Station Attendant
Wes Bishop	...	Deputy Dave

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Spain:18 | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (1976) | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (cut) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bandera, Texas, USA

Company:

Saber Productions

Trivia:

Director Jack Starrett claims he hired real life Satanists as cult-member extras.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene when Peter is shooting at the final car chasing after them during the chase scene the car that was following them was a late 1960s Oldsmobile Delmont 88, but the close up scenes of the car getting shot appears to be an early 1960s compact vehicle.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth (2000) (V)

Rosemary's Baby meets The Hitcher!

Ah, it's always great to discover a forgotten gem like this for the first time. Staring Peter Fonda and Warren Oates, the story involves them and their wives going on a cross-country vacation in their new RV. They decide to spend their first night parked in a secluded section of woods and just before going to bed, they witness a brutal, satanic ritual off in the distance. When they are spotted, the chase of their lives begins. Simply put, Race with the Devil was an entertaining flick. The ritual was suitable creepy (I loved the shot of the fire being started, as well as the flaming tree later on) and the chase scenes were tense, exciting, and action-packed (great stunt work). The "can't-trust-anyone" theme really helped to develop the foreboding atmosphere, all leading up to a chilling finale. I recommend checking the movie out before the remake hits screens in 2008…you won't regret it! By the way, Race with the Devil was clearly an influence on From Dusk Till Dawn.