HORROR MOVIE
Added 9/12/2009
I JUST GOT A KICK OUT OF THIS MOVIE, JUST THINK A EVIL CAR ON THE LOOSE WHAT A THOUGHT!
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It Is Ironic To See Lara Parker Running Away From The Devil Rather Than Running Towards Him!
Added 5/25/2009
Fans of the gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows" will want to see "Race with the Devil." It stars the beautiful Lara Parker as Kelly Marsh. Her husband Roger (Peter Fonda) and friends (Warren Oates and Loretta Swit) are terrorized and pursued by Satan worshippers as they travel the countryside in their RV while en-route to Amarillo, Texas.
Lara Parker is most famous for her role as the diabolical Angelique on "Dark Shadows." A Satan-worshipping witch, she would harm anyone who stood between her and her beloved Barnabas Collins, a vampire. Many times Angelique was merciless. Parker also starred in an episode of "Kolchak: The Night Stalker." She was a witch working as a model who wanted to kill her way to the top of the fashion industry. (Incidentally, both "Dark Shadows" and "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" were directed by Dan Curtis.) Therefore it is ironic to see Lara Parker in a role where she is tormented by witches. Her performance in "Race with the Devil" is an excellent one as it was with all her projects.
"Race with the Devil" has the same Satanic conspiratorial elements of "Rosemary's Baby." The helpless vacationers can't trust anyone as they race towards Amarillo. While watching this horror film, I kept hearing Rosemary Woodhouse screaming, "They're all witches!"
An excellent cast, suspenseful chase scenes, and an open, downbeat ending make "Race with the Devil" a must see for all fans of occult horror. Fans of Lara Parker and "Dark Shadows" will also want to see this film. It is interesting to see the gorgeous Parker in the role of victim rather than victimizer.
Anchor Bay has provided a great presentation of "Race with the Devil." It is shown in a widescreen presentation of 1.85:1 and is replete with full-length audio commentary from Lara Parker, an interview with Peter Fonda, and theatrical trailer. A movie poster replica has also been provided inside the plastic keep case.
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A little gem, but the ending was atrocious... (spoilers below)
Added 5/18/2009
This movie had me scared when I watched it back in the seventies or even in reprisals in the eighties...
The chemistry between Oates and Fonda was something great, above average for this kind of movie. The actions scene were well staged, the sense of claustrophobic doom is all over the film. We can always talk about plot holes, and there are a few of them in the movie, but they did not compromise the overall joy of watching it.
The only thing was wrong was the ending. Ok, it added to the notion of sheer terror, but I think they cheated the audience just for the sake of a twisting end. Why? We were led to care about the four main characters, all of them likeable people (and with good job done by the actors), only for them to die without even a glimpse of hope to escape... That was not fair.
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2.5 stars out of 4
Added 4/4/2009
The Bottom Line:
As long as you don't take this 1975 Henry Fonda/Warren Oates vehicle too seriously, you'll probably appreciate its simple take of average Joes beset on all sides by middle-American weirdos; by no means art, it's a functional-enough little chase film.
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I don't believe a school bus on Sunday...
Added 3/9/2009
This is, without question, my favorite movie of all time. It has all the elements I love: a motor vehicle chase (in a brand new '75 Winnebago) and Warren Oates teamed up with Peter Fonda.
The premise is pretty simple: Two couples hit the road in a groovy Winnebago, the men witness a Satanic cult ritual late at night in the middle of nowhere, and the cultists only find out when Loretta Swit sticks her head out of the motor home to screech "Fraaaaannnk....it's late...come to bed!" From that point on, all hell (pardon the pun) breaks loose and audiences are treated to some great chase scenes, some creepy small town folks, and a bunch of snakes where they ought not be. Fonda and Oates were friends onscreen and off, and it showed. Their easy camaraderie is really the glue that holds this film together. Two friends, scared and running for their lives, do what they can to fight back. In addition to Swit, Lara Parker (Angelique on Dark Shadows) played the other wife and she too did a fantastic job screaming and acting terrified.
The defining moment of the movie for me was near the end when the now nearly destroyed, but still somehow running Winnebago approaches a roadblock. There's a bus by the side of the road and some kids standing nearby with adults, watching curiously. But Oates' instincts were spot on: "I don't believe a school bus on Sunday." And he plows right on through.
It's very 1975. Gotta love it. RIP Warren Oates.
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Classic movie with a shocking ending
Added 6/19/2009
Just watched this dvd after not seeing the movie since around 1978 on television. What I remembered seeing when I was young was a couple of guys riding around in a Dodge Charger causing trouble and being mean to this girl, along with the shocking ending. Seeing the movie once again, I realize it is much more than that. There is some great humor and a lot of spectacular stunts that you will not see these days. But I want to emphasize this: the movie is more character based than one might think. Larry is pretty much the white trash who treats Mary like trash. Deke is not friendly with her in the beginning either; however, later there is a sense of something that might have continued in a relationship between Deke and Mary. This is what makes the ending very sad, along with the fact that Larry and Deke had big dreams of making it big in racing. I did not catch on to this when younger, and figured they all got what was coming to them in the end for causing so much trouble. I now see the movie in a completely different light than before - and you will too.
This dvd is highly recommended - buy it while you still can and preserve this movie in your dvd collection.
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This movie creates cool and doesnt blow it
Added 3/17/2009
I always read people's complaints, and I'm also a pretty particular person when it comes to movies, so I have to disagree. There is no plot per se, except a couple of professional thieves trying to get away, but so what?
Sometimes movies are fun for throwaway entertainment and this delivers it. The transfer is beautiful. You really feel like you are right there, and its coming up on forty years ago.
Peter Fonda does his job as the cool but corrupt aspiring racer, the girl is convincing as a vapid small-town loser/floosie, and the third guy is less memorable, but plays a good mellow mechanic who's ready to boil over. I really enjoyed seeing Vic Morrow again, who died in the early 80s. His role is a bit under-directed, but he plays the crusty, angry, not-in-my-town rabble dirty enough to pursue DIrty Larry.
THe characters fill in the gaps between the action, and convey a sort of 60s-70s looseness and boredom with normal life lost long ago to computers and video games. The car chases are grade A. I didn't see much that was blatantly unrealistic and the stunt work really reminded me of Tarantino's Death Proof, which I'm sure used this movie and possibly old stunt experts for inspiration. It may not equal the action of modern effects epics, but you dont have to watch some juvenile romance either. It hangs together well, it doesn't try to be more than it is, and it delivers some top quality stunts with no CGI anywhere. I ordered it for my friend, and liked it enough to get it myself, and I dont buy many movies.
If you like car chase movies, its one of the five best, and one of the few that has been properly transferred and packaged. At this price, its a great buy. Death Proof is as good for action, but this one's feel is highly realistic. They're about equal, and I can't think of many other car chase movies, besides scenes in French Connection etc, that equal these two. They should sell them together.
Dont let the awful opening song put you off.
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Great Movie
Added 3/5/2009
I love this movie, have watched it over and over, it is a oldie but goodie, well worth warching. Lots of fast driving, and keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. Great buy !!
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