"The Car" is a cool little movie that seems to have taken its inspiration from "Jaws", but replaced it with a car instead of a shark, and dusty desert roads instead of water. It's well filmed and the title vehicle looks great, with a believable aura of evil around it whenever it's on screen. The comparison with Jaws continues with the way scenes of innocent people are intercut with shots of the black shape in the distance gradually getting closer while they remain unaware of the danger they are in. All the acting is good and the characters are realistic
Although the car itself works as a menace, what doesn't work is how easily it is able to bump people off. Two cyclists stupidly try to out-pedal it in a straight forward line rather than slow down or veer off. When the car charges into a marching band rehearsal, all of the people run in a straight line directly down the road in front of it, with not one of them leaping off to the side where there are many obstacles, such as steps and concrete blocks that would protect them. There are many deaths but nothing stronger than you would see in a made-for-TV movie - which this could easily be if it wasn't for the wise, Panavision aspect ratio (which works well).
The car's stunts get more outrageous as the movie goes on, culminating in a pretty cool showdown. Although it's a little too long, it's enjoyable for most of the time.
Although the car itself works as a menace, what doesn't work is how easily it is able to bump people off. Two cyclists stupidly try to out-pedal it in a straight forward line rather than slow down or veer off. When the car charges into a marching band rehearsal, all of the people run in a straight line directly down the road in front of it, with not one of them leaping off to the side where there are many obstacles, such as steps and concrete blocks that would protect them. There are many deaths but nothing stronger than you would see in a made-for-TV movie - which this could easily be if it wasn't for the wise, Panavision aspect ratio (which works well).
The car's stunts get more outrageous as the movie goes on, culminating in a pretty cool showdown. Although it's a little too long, it's enjoyable for most of the time.