Amazon.com: The Car [VHS]: James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley, R.G. Armstrong, John Rubinstein, Elizabeth Thompson, Roy Jenson, Kim Richards, Kyle Richards, Kate Murtagh, Robert Phillips, Doris Dowling, Gerald Hirschfeld, Elliot Silverstein, Michael McCroskey, Marvin Birdt, Dennis Shryack, Lane Slate, Michael Butler: Video

I love the 1977 film "The Car" for a number of reasons. One of which, I suppose, was that I first saw this "B" horror flick at the neighborhood theater as a child. Yes, it scared me then and makes me smile now.

"The Car" is so extravangantly cheesy as to be almost surreal. To really understand the greatness of "The Car," one must compare it to John Carpenter's "Christine," another haunted car film based on one of Stephen King's weakest novels. I've seen "Christine" once and really don't care to view it again. I've seen "The Car" many times and will watch it every chance I get.

Accurately noted by several reviewers, "The Car" is really "Jaws" on land. This souped up automobile is a sleek black Lincoln possessing a fog horn and a bumper the size of Wilford Brimley's mustache. It runs over bikers, hitchhikers and tuba players with hungry ease, tormenting the local yokel police force with demonic glee. The cast is the key here, with small town policemen James Brolin, John Marley and Ronnie Cox joining forces with dynamite expert R.G. Armstrong to corner The Car and blow it kingdom come. These actors have been around the block a few times in films far better than "The Car," but their experienced presence adds a note (albeit a small one) of respectability to the precedings.

But before this salty crew goes after the metallic Beezlebub beast, The Car must terrorize a high school band, Brolin's hometown squeeze Kathleen Lloyd (whatever happened to her?) and several unlucky travelers in the wrong place at the wrong time. Needless-to-say, car insurance companies were left mightily frustrated after The Car paid a visit to Santa Ynaz.

I don't know why The Car likes to drive in the desert, just as I don't know why it seems to have a crush on James Brolin, teasing him unmercifully while slowly picking off his crew one by one. I do know that the car chases in this film are tremendously exciting. The direction and editing is crisp. Leonard Rosenman's musical score is above average. And the final confrontation, while laughable in its epic excess, is memorable.

"The Car" is a fun movie, glorious in a "B" movie comic book kind of way. It's "Creature From the Black Lagoon," "The Omen," "Jaws" and "Smokey and the Bandit" all rolled into one hilariously transcendent package. It is celluloid pulp fiction, with the nutritional value of a whopper and fries. Please grill the onions.

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just make sure you get a WIDESCREEN copy!!, March 25, 2006

By	Tuco (Phoenix, Az USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Car (DVD)

This is a great little supernatural film and a must for fans of the 70's TV movies or B movie suspense thrillers.

Great cinematography, superb score and another EXCELLENT car designed by the George Barris, King of the Customizers and the man who brought you the General Lee, the 60's Batmobile, the Munsters car and Starsky and Hutch's Torino.

Because the photographer makes full use of the 2:35 widescreen in all shots, this one is a must for widescreen - don't settle for the fullframe copies that are circulating or you will definately miss one of the most redeeming aspects of this film!!

Only mistake I saw was that they really should've given a bigger part to the Native American Deputy as there was alot he could have added to the story.

The sound of The Car when the motors running and the horn honking terror seal the deal on this well made flick. Get it on DVD now........

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great horror flick!, May 3, 2000

By	David D McKeehan (Lake Worth, Florida, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Car [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I haven't seen this film in twenty years or so, but it was worth the wait. I saw part of it when I was seven (now twenty-eight) on network TV, and I was scared out of my wits at the part where the car runs two bicyclists off the road. I also remember the scene where it runs over the town sheriff.

I decided to just go ahead and get this movie without seeing the whole thing first. It was great. I think the scariest scenes are these: First, the part where the police officer is guarding the parade and you see a brilliant flash in the distance, indicating the car's windshield (funny, being that the windshield didn't appear to be glass). Second, the part where James Brolin's girlfriend talks on the phone is chilling. She just keeps talking while the minute headlights just keep getting bigger and bigger until it plows through her living room, killing her.

I'm surprised a sequel was never made so we could find out where this car came from. It makes its appearance in the desert, but where was it beforehand? Interesting, unexplained stuff!