Reviewer Film Ratings:
Plot: 3.5 | Fun Factor: | Gore: 2 | Nudity: 1 | Scare Factor: 3 | Overall: 3.5/5

A Plymouth Classic
Reviewed by GregMO ROberts

When Arnie Cunningham buys a bright red 1958 Plymouth Fury he never expected the terror that would ensue – for others! Making a vehicle the source of terror in a film is nothing new. See Steven Spielberg’s Duel. See the large truck used in Jeepers Creepers. See, Christine. Christine was based on a Stephen King novel by the same name and was brought to the big screen in 1983. The film starred Keith Gordon as Arnie – a geeky, high school nerd that buys the rundown car and soon he develops a confidence and swagger that alienates him from his friend. Arnie could care less. He has a freakin’ cool car for christsake! But his friends Dennis and Leigh (John Stockwell and Alexandra Paul) discover that the car has a hidden past. An evil past. And that the prior owner died while being consumed by the power that the car had over him. They try and destroy the car. Christine will have none of that. Christine was directed by John Carpenter between helming The Thing (1982) and Starman (1984). Carpenter accepted the directing job even before the book was published (King was ‘big’ at the time). To add to the trivia segment of the review, Kevin Bacon was initially offered the role as Arnie, but passed to make some film named Footloose. Although it doesn’t really hold up when watched again 25 years later, it does have a look, a feel and a presence that is hard to put your finger on. Carpenter uses the car to perfection, showing at first its birth if you will (it’s creation at the car auto plant) to its destruction and regeneration. The music, which is also provided by John Carpenter, is eerie and pure 1980’s delight. And the cast, is not stellar, but they are used appropriately and don’t get in the way of the true star – Christine. I liked Christine in 1983 and appreciate it more today. It reminds me of what I consider the golden age of horror (1980-1990). It had a ridiculous premise executed with enough conviction by all those involved to make it interesting and downright scary at times. By the time the bulldozer gets involved in deciding Christine’s fate, I was actually pulling for the car. Low on blood, but big on chills, Christine still delivers the goods. Stephen King topped himself in the ‘vehicles are scary’ department with Maximum Overdrive which was made three years after Christine. But that just makes Christine a classic. And I bet she wouldn’t want it any other way.

Reviewer Film Ratings:
Plot: 3.5 | Fun Factor: | Gore: 1 | Nudity: 1 | Scare Factor: 3 | Overall: 4.5/5

quick review
Reviewed by Killer Klown