One of the better and unique horror offerings of the '70s, The Car was not well received back then, thought to be a 'Jaws on Wheels' in the wake of other derivative stuff like "Grizzly." It also followed the Satan-themed "The Omen"(76). Though not on the level of "Jaws" or "The Omen," and seemingly an amalgam of 2 or 3 prior used horror themes, it remains an interesting scare-flic and stands the test of time rather well. It appears out of nowhere and viewers have to develop their own back stories (as in, hell needs more souls fast, so this is an agent to expedite matters). Its point of view is shot thru a red filter (natch). It has no other purpose than to kill people on the roads, tho it can travel thru houses when it has to. It lacks even the rudimentary reasoning of a shark, which kills to eat (again, make up your own reasons). The religious connotations are brushed over, but that's fine; the last thing this film needed was a priest character to explain it all. It taunts and tortures its victims, the level depending on how much they have offended it (it's not wise to curse at it). Its car horn modulates the sounds it makes, depending on how it feels - it laughs, chortles, blares in anger - but always in an offensive tone, grating on the ears of humans. It even has a devilish sense of humor, as in its cat-and-mouse games with James Brolin's character. Human beings are definitely the mice here, existing solely for The Car's warped amusement. There's one quick 3-second scene in the middle of the long chase with the cops; the Car swerves slightly just to cause an oncoming (non-police)automobile to spin out - The Car has personality to spare. Brolin, in his prime leading man years of the late seventies, is at first at a loss, but soon decides nothing short of blowing up an entire canyon will address this matter proper-like. But, the real star is The Car itself (the Lincoln Mark III, black & customized all to hell). It's a bravura creation and really does seem invulnerable, as well as supernatural. Anytime it shows up, the scenes are energized, tense and quite exciting. The overall scheme of the picture is rather simplistic and that's why it doesn't rate higher with me; but, for what it is, The Car is a helluva ride. There was an obvious set-up for a sequel at the end, in the big city, but it never happened.
Review of The Car
