Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

moonspinner55 B-grade thriller from debuting director Charles Band has a driverless black Camaro causing destruction and death on rural highways and back roads; meanwhile, invalid Jose Ferrer (the victim of a mysterious car accident himself) accuses wife Sue Lyon of cheating and attempts to have her killed, but she's in possession of an occult amulet which may help her turn the tables. Not a bad plot (as these things go), and the cast is certainly solid, but there's barely a semblance of filmmaking talent behind the camera. Band, working with two cinematographers, stages outlandish car crashes and smash-ups without any tension or excitement (though some may say the squashing of a bickering couple in their car has a touch of black humor). The movie is just an exercise in vehicular mayhem--topped with a love of sending cars to their demise in fiery explosions--while the occult asides seem merely an afterthought. *1/2 from ****

JohnHowardReid It's a surprise to find this movie was filmed in Los Angeles because L.A. looks quite unfamiliar here. But this movie is full of surprises, not the least of which is finding that the story is actually an earlier version of "The Car" (1977). I suppose José Ferrer will go down in history as an actor who played characters with gross physical deformities. In this film, he is confined to a wheelchair. But he still looks pretty chipper and his voice is as beautifully resonant as ever. John Ericson has borne the years well too, but Sue Lyon is definitely looking older. She delivers a very convincing performance, however, and enjoys some great make-up effects. Director Charles Band knows how to fill his wide anamorphic screen effectively. True, it's a "B" film and has some of the characteristics of the genre including jump cuts and lots of actuality film-work, but it also displays some spectacular action sequences (which are reprized at the climax). All in all, it's an effective movie, despite its far-fetched and incredible story. Even on its own level, the story really doesn't work, but there are a few good shocks and plenty of spills. Fortunately, the performances seem both natural and convincing. Photography, sets and other credits are effective.

Brian T. Whitlock (GOWBTW) This horror film is more occultic than others I have seen. "The Car" was made within the same year as "Crash!". "The Car" is dealing with an automobile that is pure evil. This movie however dealing with a car controlled by evil. One car caused terror in a town, while this one caused chaos in its path. One car was controlled by the driver, while the other, didn't need one! In "Crash!", you have a beautiful blonde (Sue Lyon) who goes out to a swap meet and buys an idol to show her wheelchair bound husband (Jose Ferrer). Filled will jealousy, he tries to stop her from going places. While on a stretch of road, a large dog attacks her, causing her to crash. She comes out, clutching the idol. She never released it during her stay at the local hospital. That idol did a lot of damage to the motorists. Especially, the police. When she recovered, there was more information about the idol she has. Her scheming husband dug the true worth of it. Since she bought it cheap, it has more worth underneath the ceramic casing. This movie was indeed cheaply made. The crashes was more of the fun, very little action. But watchable.

Scott_Mercer As somebody else said, probably one of the better haunted keychain movies ever made.Saw this last night here in Hollywood at the monthly Grindhouse Festival at the New Beverly Theatre.Needless to say, a flick like this plays much better with an appreciative audience. The only thing better would have been seeing it at a drive-in.Part of this film resembles a Gothic-horror-drama such as "Gaslight." The other part is a car crash film.Director Charles Band was at the screening and said there were only three requirements to get the film sold to distributors: 1) put as many car crashes in it as possible, 2)get some "name" actors in it (you can get old guys for cheap), and 3) shoot it in widescreen. The film was made for under $100,000.Jose Ferrer is a bitter, wheelchair bound (sort of) expert in antiquities. Sue Lyon is his much younger wife. He holds her responsible for being in the wheelchair due to an auto accident. When an ancient Hittitte idol comes into their lives, they both now have the power to wreak vengeance on each other.He attacks her, she tries to get away and crashes her car. His dog attacks her, but doesn't kill her. She ends up in the hospital with amnesia, the only clue to her identity the evil idol, which she holds in a death grip.Can the kindly nurse and hunky doctor treating her find out her identity before its too late? Meanwhile, thanks to the cursed idol, her driverless car goes on a rampage, causing accident after accident and explosion after explosion, tormenting the local sheriff's department in whatever podunk town this was filmed in (the end credits state "filmed in Los Angeles" but that's true only in the loosest possible definition of the term).A weird little film from the dying days of the true "B" movie.