The Car (1977)

A small desert town is terrorized by a powerful, seemingly possessed car, and the local sheriff may be the only one who can stop it.

Director:

Elliot Silverstein

Writers:

Dennis Shryack (screenplay), Michael Butler (screenplay)

Stars:

James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Brolin	...	Wade Parent
Kathleen Lloyd	...	Lauren
John Marley	...	Everett
R.G. Armstrong	...	Amos
John Rubinstein	...	John Morris
Elizabeth Thompson	...	Margie
Roy Jenson	...	Ray Mott
Kim Richards	...	Lynn Marie
Kyle Richards	...	Debbie
Kate Murtagh	...	Miss McDonald
Robert Phillips	...	Metcalf
Doris Dowling	...	Bertha
Henry O'Brien	...	Chas
Eddie Little Sky	...	Denson
Lee McLaughlin	...	Marvin Fats

Storyline

A small desert town is terrorized by a powerful, seemingly possessed car, and the local sheriff may be the only one who can stop it.

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Plot Keywords:

killer car | car | sheriff | cemetery | desert | 

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Taglines:

Is it a phantom, a demon, or the Devil himself?

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Genres:

Action | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The quotation said by Church of Satan leader Anton LaVey heard at the beginning of the film, "Oh great brothers of the night who rideth upon the hot winds of hell, who dwelleth in the Devil's lair; move and appear" was from the "Invocation of Destruction" in The Satanic Bible.

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Goofs

Just as the Car chases the marching band into the graveyard, two kids crouch behind a tombstone, which wiggles as if made from Styrofoam (which it probably is).

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Quotes

Amos Clements: [complaining about Morris' french horn] And if I hear another sound out of that thing, I'll ram it so far up your ass, you'll be farting music for a year.
John Morris: [thoughtfully considering the idea] Wouldn't that be fantastic? Farting music. For a year!

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Crazy Credits

The Car's horn blows at the beginning and the end of the ending credits.

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Alternate Versions

The NBC TV version of this film was heavily edited for violent content. In particular, the scene where the Car goes into a barrel roll over the two oncoming police cars was totally removed, leaving the first time viewer with a major continuity problem. Other parts removed included the quick scene where the hitchhiker is shown being thrown through the air after being hit by the Car and later on, the Car blasting through the front window of the house is slightly altered.

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Connections

Referenced in To the Devil a Dog (2005)

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Soundtracks

Semper Fidelis
(uncredited)
Music by John Philip Sousa

User Reviews

The Devil Passed His Driver's Test!

What a flick. I just bought the widescreen edition and watched it to celebrate the new century. Let me briefly list a few of its many strong points, most of which are essential to the success of the 1970s "Killer Object/Animal" horror subgenre:

1. Colorful small-town (desert, Southwest-y) flavor. A parade or similar celebration (rodeo, picnic) should occur. 2. Quirky dialogue. 3. John Marley acting beligerent. 4. A Panicked Crowd Scene, with folks dashing for their lives as the demonic beast/machine/inanimate object heads their way. 5. A smart-alleck hippie who meets a horrible end.

Seriously, though-- this film isn't "scary" in the traditional sense, but its true power lies when you really start thinking about the car itself. Where did it come from? Is the Devil driving? And is it plaguing our major characters because of their sins? (i.e. Ronny Cox as an alcoholic falling off the wagon, James Brolin as a single parent trying to keep his daughters happy as he dates sexy Kathleen Lloyd.) What I'm saying is at its heart, this is a creepy, unsettling film with some really strange philosophical/religious questions at its core. And how many horror films can claim that? A solid 7/10.

Details

Official Sites:

-The official trailer

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

DeathMobile

Filming Locations:

Snow Canyon, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1