Car, The (1977)

Director Elliot Silverstein brings a combination of Duel (1971), Jaws(1975) and The Exorcist (1973), as a demonic, driverless car goes on the rampage in the tiny desert township of Santa Ynez in southern Utah, striking terror into the heart of every god-fearing soul in town.

The story opens with the car pushing a couple of bicyclists off a cliff and backing over a French Horn-playing hitchhiker four times. In each case, the viewer witnesses a portion of the action from the driver’s seat in a similar way to the tonsil-mounted camera in Jaws.

The hero of the abominable film is Wade Parent (James Brolin), a personable deputy sheriff who is making it with the local schoolmarm, Lauren (Kathleen Lloyd). Naturally, he’s appalled by the attendant gore to all this, and he vows to hunt down the culprit.

Joining him in the search are Sheriff Everett Peck (John Marley) and Deputy Luke Johnson (Ronny Cox). Good ol’ Ev doesn’t last long because you know who takes him out in the first few minutes, and Luke – severely disturbed by all the commotion – begins to lose his five-year battle with the bottle. All of which leaves Wade to fend for himself.

It’s all downhill from there.

The acting – it almost goes without saying – is dreadful, and how it took three people (Debbis Shryack, Michael Buller and Lane Slate) to write the lame-brained script that accompanies these demonic happenings is a major mystery. But the action – courtesy of ace Hollywood special effects man Albert Whitlock – is exceptional.

Celebrated car maker George Barris created the star of the movie, a black sedan based on a Lincoln Mark III chassis with longer side fenders, close-set headlights and a lower roof.

Deputy Sheriff Wade Parent
James Brolin
Lauren Humphries
Kathleen Lloyd
Sheriff Everett Peck
John Marley
Amos Clements
R.G. Armstrong
John Morris
John Rubinstein
Margie Johnson
Elizabeth Thompson
Ray Mott
Roy Jenson
Lynn Marie Parent
Kim Richards
Debbie Parent
Kyle Richards
Miss McDonald
Kate Murtagh
Metcalf
Robert Phillips
Bertha Clements
Doris Dowling
Chas
Henry O’Brien
Denson
Eddie Little Sky
Marvin Fats
Lee McLaughlin
Navajo Woman
Margaret Willey
Mac Gruder
Read Morgan
Dalton 
Ernie F. Orsatti
Jimmy
Joshua Davis
Donna
Geraldine Keams
Al Ashberry
Hank Hamilton
Parker
John Moio
Suzie Pullbrook
Melody Thomas Scott
Pete Keil
Bob Woodlock
Thompson
James Rawley
Berry
Louis Welch
Wally
Bryan O’Byrne
Dr Pullbrook
Don Keefer
Mr Mackey
Steve Gravers
Joe
Tony Brande
Deputy Luke Johnson
Ronny Cox

Director
Elliot Silverstein