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The Car
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cheesy '70s horror with domestic abuse, stereotypes.

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The Car
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What's the Story?
In THE CAR, the peaceful desert town of Santa Ynez, Utah is thrown into chaos when a mysterious black sedan arrives and begins a killing spree. After two teen bicyclists and a hitchhiker are killed by this car, the police try to stop it (and the presumed driver), but when the chief of police is run over and killed while crossing the street, it's now up to Captain Wade Parent (James Brolin) to lead his fellow officers. After nearly running over Parent's girlfriend, a teacher, and her students as they practice marching for an upcoming parade, the black sedan ramps up its murderous rampage. As high-speed police chases and gunfire don't stop the car and the situation becomes even more desperate, Parent settles on a plan to stop the car once and for all, and find out who, or what, is behind its homicidal impulses.
Is It Any Good?
While not a good movie in the conventional sense, this has a cheese factor that cannot be denied. It's a ludicrous premise -- a malevolent car with no driver or backstory to speak of settling on a small town in Utah to go on its killing spree (as opposed to more populated areas). There are a few b-stories that attempt to pad the flimsiness of the story while the audience waits for the next demonic vehicular homicide. The killer black sedan's gymnastic abilities are laugh-out-loud hilarious. Quirky hitchhikers, short shorts, feathered hair, and James Brolin sporting a Burt Reynolds 'stache -- there's no doubt that The Car is a slice of kitschy 1970s cinema.
However, like other movies very much of past decades, some of that datedness ventures into bad behavior that wouldn't be brushed aside today. For example, one of the characters who is drafted to help stop the car is shown verbally and physically abusing his wife, culminating in a scene in which the woman files a report in the police station with a bruised face, but declines to press charges, and is then shown getting yelled at outside the station. This man also hurls a couple slurs at the Native American police officer. And yet, when given the chance to be a hero, the police allow this man to step up and do his part to save the town from the car's merciless attacks. These aspects to the movie mar its so-bad-it's-good vibe.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about horror movie violence. How does the violence in The Car compare to other horror movies you've seen?
How does the movie address the issue of domestic/spousal abuse? How do you think it would be addressed differently if the movie came out today?
How might this be an example of a movie that's "so bad, it's good?" What are some other examples of movies with this kind of appeal?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 13, 1977
- On DVD or streaming: May 6, 2008
- Cast: James Brolin , Kathleen Lloyd , John Marley
- Director: Elliot Silverstein
- Studio: Universal
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Cars and Trucks
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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