This abnormally obscure early 90's slasher (it's nearly impossible to find) attempts to blend different styles and sub genres, like desert horror, textbook teen-slasher and psychological thriller. The story's main influence obviously comes from the stalking-vehicles-without-a-driver classics, namely "The Car" and Steven Spielberg's "Duel", but the atmosphere and especially the final plot-twists are more reminiscent to wannabe intellectual thrillers, which is quite a shame. Personally, I'm convinced "Mirage" would have been much more efficient without the pseudo-psychological end twists. As the title implies, the script wants you to constantly doubt whether or not the terrorizing black pick-up truck is real or simply a mirage. The structure doesn't really work and the film honestly isn't very good, but at least the straightforward action sequences and gory deaths make it worthwhile. Three young couples, stereotype hot girls and hunky boys, head out to the middle of the desert to go camping, play stupid ball games and have a whole lot of sex; preferably in driving vehicles (excellent opening sequence). Right from the beginning, and for no apparent reason, there's a sinister black pick-up truck with heavy lights following them around and observing their every move. Using the malevolent car as a powerful weapon, the teenagers are quickly wiped out and pretty soon Chris is the only one left to confront the psycho behind the wheel. The death sequences are ingenious and suitably gory (one poor bloke is dismembered when his legs are simultaneously chained to a tree and the vehicle) and the desert setting easily creates the right atmosphere of helplessness. The acting performances are atrocious, but the girls are pretty and provide some welcome albeit totally gratuitous nudity. The pick-up truck is simply awesome and undeniably menacing. "Mirage" is good fun as long as you completely forget the last five minutes.
