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Post by Popeye Doyle on Jun 29, 2020 2:32:15 GMT
1983 saw several Stephen King adaptations. Not quite as good as The Dead Zone but superior to Cujo. The flaming car is a great visual. Solid soundtrack and a strangely over the top performance from Keith Gordon as nerd turned asshole supreme. 7/10  |
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Post by moviemouth on Jun 29, 2020 2:38:34 GMT
One of the best Stephen King movies imo. One of the main reasons I like it is because it has a silly story on the surface, but the transformation that Keith Gordon gives in his performance is both sad and frightening. The way this cool car turns him from a nice guy into a complete scumbag is so interesting to watch. His want to be cool and popular transforms him into a terrible person. John Carpenter's unique style certainly adds to why the movie is so effective.
I have never been a big fan of The Dead Zone, so I think it is a better movie than that. Both are much better than the dull Cujo.
7.5/10
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Jun 29, 2020 2:46:01 GMT
7/10 Good flick.
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Post by jcush on Jun 29, 2020 3:09:41 GMT
I like this one a lot. Keith Gordon plays his character arc very well, the soundtrack is really good, and I think the premise is very well executed, when it easily could have been done poorly. 8/10
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Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Jun 29, 2020 3:12:15 GMT
It was good, but of course the book was far better.
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Post by Marv on Jun 29, 2020 3:13:25 GMT
I love this one. One of my favorite King adaptations most likely, and probably up there on my Carpenter list also. The novel is very good also, altho the movie kind of ignores the ghost of Roland LeBay (who is the real villain).
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Post by moviemouth on Jun 29, 2020 3:20:35 GMT
I love this one. One of my favorite King adaptations most likely, and probably up there on my Carpenter list also. The novel is very good also, altho the movie kind of ignores the ghost of Roland LeBay (who is the real villain). I think I'm glad. I haven't read the book, but with what the movie seems to be going for I don't think that would have worked. I don't like the idea that the car is possessed by the ghost of a person. I could be wrong, but I don't remember the movie giving an explanation of why the car is possessed. I like the not knowing. |
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Post by Marv on Jun 29, 2020 3:29:30 GMT
I love this one. One of my favorite King adaptations most likely, and probably up there on my Carpenter list also. The novel is very good also, altho the movie kind of ignores the ghost of Roland LeBay (who is the real villain). I think I'm glad. I haven't read the book, but with what the movie seems to be going for I don't think that would have worked. I don't like the idea that the car is possessed by the ghost of a person. I could be wrong, but I don't remember the movie giving an explanation of why the car is possessed. I like the not knowing. I agree, I don't think the movie could've handled the imagery of a maniacal spirit driving a possessed car the same way a novel does. I don't know if it explains Roland much more than someone who loves that car more than anything else in his life including his wife and daughter. I do enjoy Roland in the novel tho. He gives Christine more personality as she hunts down all the victims. But it wouldn't have worked as well in a movie. |
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Post by Prime etc. on Jun 29, 2020 4:10:21 GMT
Will Darnell: "I knew a guy had a car like that once... Son of a bitch was so mean, you could've poured boiling water down his throat and he would've pissed ice cubes!"
Will Darnell: "And I'm gonna tell you something else right now. I don't take any shit from you kids. This place is for working stiffs gotta keep their cars running so they can keep bread on the table, it's not for rich-assed, snot-nose kids who wanna go dragging around on the Orange Belt. I don't allow no smoking in here, neither! You wanna' butt, you go out in the junkyard!"
Dennis Guilder: Uhh, sir?
Will Darnell: What?
Dennis Guilder: Those men over there smoking. You better tell then to stop.
Will Darnell: You trying to help your buddy right out of here, jerk?
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Jun 29, 2020 8:25:16 GMT
A fairly middle-of-the-road SK movie IMO. Enjoyable enough but forgettable. The underlying concept (an evil car) is extremely silly and not remotely scary, but the film-makers and cast manage to get the best out of such a ludicrous concept. Still, John Carpenter has made more interesting movies.
Never bothered with the book.
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Post by GiantFan1980 on Jun 29, 2020 8:40:40 GMT
One of King's better movies. But it kills me they had to smash up a couple 58 Plymouth's to do it  |
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Post by Toasted Cheese on Jun 29, 2020 9:28:41 GMT
Always an enjoyable watch. Could have perhaps done a few things better and I don't feel that a lot of effort was put in to make it look late 70's, but these are really minor quibbles. The film is still quite unique in its concept, strong characterization and a lot of this is also due to King's source material and Carpenter's own directorial skill and sense of horror aesthetic. Something that could have ended up corny was made more palatable.
Cujo and The Dead Zone on the other hand from the same year, while still worthwhile watches, they don't seem to come together as well as Christine did in concept. Cujo had a more real believable scenario, but they jettisoned the supernatural element regarding the dog's rabid state which ties in with the Dead Zone tale. The Dead Zone comes under-baked and this is a shame, because I think it is one of King's finest early period novels. Both are also a tad dreary and\or flat in parts.
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Post by jamesbamesy on Jun 29, 2020 9:28:55 GMT
In my top 3 Carpenter films and the best horror film of 1983 for me. I just love the story and character downfall of Arnie.
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