A small desert town is terrorized by a powerful, seemingly possessed car, and the local sheriff may be the only one who can stop it.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| James Brolin | ... |
Wade Parent
|
|
| Kathleen Lloyd | ... |
Lauren Humphries
|
|
| John Marley | ... |
Everett Peck
|
|
| R.G. Armstrong | ... |
Amos Clements
(as R. G. Armstrong)
|
|
| John Rubinstein | ... |
John Morris
|
|
 |
Elizabeth Thompson | ... |
Margie Johnson
|
| Roy Jenson | ... |
Ray Mott
|
|
| Kim Richards | ... |
Lynn Marie Parent
|
|
| Kyle Richards | ... |
Debbie Parent
|
|
| Kate Murtagh | ... |
Miss McDonald
|
|
| Robert Phillips | ... |
Metcalf
|
|
| Doris Dowling | ... |
Bertha Clements
|
|
| Henry O'Brien | ... |
Chas
|
|
| Eddie Little Sky | ... |
Denson
|
|
|
|
Lee McLaughlin | ... |
Marvin Fats
|
|
|
Margaret Willey | ... |
Navajo Woman
|
| Read Morgan | ... |
Mac Gruder
|
|
| Ernie F. Orsatti | ... |
Dalton
(as Ernie Orsatti)
|
|
| Joshua Davis | ... |
Jimmy
|
|
| Geraldine Keams | ... |
Donna
|
|
|
|
Hank Hamilton | ... |
Al Ashberry
|
| John Moio | ... |
Parker
|
|
| Melody Thomas Scott | ... |
Suzie Pullbrook
(as Melody Thomas)
|
|
|
|
Bob Woodlock | ... |
Pete Keil
|
|
|
James Rawley | ... |
Thompson
|
| Louis Welch | ... |
Berry
|
|
| Bryan O'Byrne | ... |
Wally
|
|
| Don Keefer | ... |
Dr. Pullbrook
|
|
| Steve Gravers | ... |
Mr. Mackey
|
|
|
|
Tony Brande | ... |
Joe
|
| Ronny Cox | ... |
Luke Johnson
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Leslie Hoffman | ... |
High School Student (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Elliott Mason | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
|
| Jimmy Star | ... |
Student (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Bob Terhune | ... |
Tettleman (uncredited)
|
|
|
Johnny Timko | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Elliot Silverstein | ||
Written by
| Dennis Shryack | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Michael Butler | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Lane Slate | ... | (screenplay) |
| Dennis Shryack | ... | (story) & |
| Michael Butler | ... | (story) |
Produced by
| Marvin Birdt | ... | producer |
| Elliot Silverstein | ... | producer |
Music by
| Leonard Rosenman | ||
Cinematography by
| Gerald Hirschfeld | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Michael McCroskey | ||
Editorial Department
| Todd C. Ramsay | ... | associate editor (as Todd Ramsay) |
Casting By
| Lee Schaff Guardino | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Loyd S. Papez | ||
Set Decoration by
| John McCarthy Jr. | ... | (as John McCarthy) |
Makeup Department
| Brenda Boyd Bishop | ... | hair stylist (as Brenda Boyd) |
| Rick Sharp | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Frank Arrigo | ... | unit production manager |
| Charles Clement | ... | post production operations head (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Robert Latham Brown | ... | second assistant director |
| Gary Daigler | ... | first assistant director |
| Pamela A. Brewer | ... | trainee assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| James R. Alexander | ... | sound (as Jim Alexander) |
| Kevin F. Cleary | ... | sound |
| John Stacy | ... | sound editor (as John M. Stacy) |
| Robert Jackson | ... | sound re-recording loader (uncredited) |
| George E. Marshall Jr. | ... | sound utility: second unit (uncredited) |
| Dennis C. Salcedo | ... | optical sound recordist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Ted Koerner | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Kevin Pike | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Albert Whitlock | ... | special visual effects |
| Henry Schoessler | ... | matte crew (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Everett Creach | ... | stunt coordinator |
| A.J. Bakunas | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bobby Clark | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Everett Creach | ... | stunt driver (uncredited) |
| Eddie Mulder | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Rock A. Walker | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Curtis Foster | ... | lamp operator (uncredited) |
| Owen Marsh | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Louis Niemeyer | ... | assistant camera: second unit (uncredited) |
| Tony Rivetti | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited) / steadicam (uncredited) |
| Michael Simpson | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Ronald Vidor | ... | first assistant camera: "a" camera (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Bettie Biery | ... | music editor |
| Dale Anderson | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Miles Anderson | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Marilyn Baker | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| John Bergamo | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Denyse Buffum | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Ronald Cooper | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Jay Daversa | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Douglas Davis | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Sandy De Crescent | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
| Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Jim Decker | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Chuck Domanico | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| David Duke | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Ernest Ehrhardt | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| John Ellis | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| Christine Ermacoff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Norman Forrest | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Pamela Goldsmith | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Gary Gray | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Ralph Grierson | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Maurie Harris | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Norman Herzburg | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Joe Howard | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Tommy Johnson | ... | musician: tuba (uncredited) |
| Artie Kane | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Dennis Karmazyn | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Roland Kato | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Pearl Kaufman | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Ronn Kaufmann | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Gus Klein | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Raphael Kramer | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Janet Lakatos | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Ronald Langinger | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Edgar Lustgarten | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Arthur Maebe | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Jack Marsh | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Lew McCreary | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Ed Meares | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Peter Mercurio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Buell Neidlinger | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Dan Neufeld | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| John Neufeld | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Richard Perissi | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Joe Porcaro | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Tom Raney | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Uan Rasey | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Remsen | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Emil Richards | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| David Riddles | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| George Roberts | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Gale Robinson | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Leonard Rosenman | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Victor Sazer | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Jim Self | ... | musician: tuba (uncredited) |
| David Sherr | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| David Shostac | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Henry Sigismonti | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Wally Snow | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Julian Spear | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| David Speltz | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Sheridon Stokes | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Ron Straus | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Linn Subotnick | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Phillip A. Teele | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Tony Terran | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Milton Thomas | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Lloyd Ulyate | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Ken Watson | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Graham Young | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Alby Thomas | ... | transportation manager |
| Chris Haynes | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Frank Khoury | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| George Barris | ... | car customizer |
| Anton LaVey | ... | creative consultant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1977) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Irfan Film (1978) (Turkey) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1979) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Universal Films of India (1979) (India) (theatrical) (as Universal Pictures India)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1980) (United States) (tv)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Spain (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Finland (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Arrow Video (2013) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Scream Factory (2015) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Pulp Video (2017) (Italy) (Blu-ray)
- Reel One Entertainment S.L. (2017) (Spain) (Blu-ray)
- Koch Media (2018) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures Home Video (2004) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
- Universal Title (optical effects)
Other Companies
- Panavision (filmed in)
- Universal Studios Sound Facilities (post-production sound services)
- Universal Title (titles)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Among the goings-on of the sheriffs in largely rural and desert landscaped Thomas County, California include: divorced Wade Parent trying to introduce the notion to his two adolescent daughters, Lynn Marie and Debbie, of their teacher, Lauren Humphries, possibly becoming their new mother; Everett Peck believing that his first love, Bertha Clements, is being physically abused by her husband, blasting contractor Amos Clements; and alcoholic Luke Johnson being two years sober. Their goings-on and issues take a back seat when they have to investigate a numbers of deaths in different incidents, all seemingly related to a driver in what few eyewitnesses inconclusively identify as a large dark-colored sedan purposely running the victims down. Wade ends up leading the investigation and as more and more deaths occur, more evidence is collected *except* who the driver is. That increasing evidence includes the viciousness of the incidents and the seemingly nondestructive nature of the car. But what is happening may not be as simple as it appears on the surface, Wade and the others who will have to figure out the underlying issue to be able to neutralize the "car" hopefully forever. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Is it a phantom, a demon, or the Devil himself? See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Official Sites | |
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Car cost $84,000.00 to build. See more » |
| Goofs | During the final chase on the motorbike, it alternates from night / day. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Trust Doesn't Rust (1982). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Dies Irae, Dies Illa See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The Car's horn blows at the beginning and the end of the ending credits. See more » |
| Quotes |
Amos Clements:
[complaining about Morris' french horn]
And if I hear another sound out of that thing, I'll ram it so far up your ass, you'll be farting music for a year. John Morris: [thoughtfully considering the idea] Wouldn't that be fantastic? Farting music. For a year! See more » |