The Car

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The Car

PG

1977

1h 35m

Horror

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

30%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Two bicyclists are run down by a strange black car in the desert near a small town in Utah. But this is just the first in a series of hit-and-run murders. Sheriff Wade Parents (James Brolin) is called in to investigate, and his deputy, Everett (John Marley), is killed by the black sedan, which, some witnesses say, has no one behind its wheel. When the car threatens a local school parade, the lives of the town's children and Wade's teacher girlfriend, Lauren (Kathleen Lloyd), are endangered.

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

12/21/2015

There's nothing under the surface either, no pattern or primitive fear mechanism guiding the car. What you see is what you get, and it deserves to be thrown back.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

05/06/2008

As silly as it sounds, but strangely dull.

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Tom Milne

Time Out

06/24/2006

Interminably drawn out, with some good special effects but its characters hauled straight out of the cracker-barrel, it has nowhere near the same minatory charge as Spielberg's Duel.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

09/22/2023

A southwestern chiller with James Brolin...

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Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

05/06/2023

The Car is still bad enough to turn you against the motion picture industry.

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Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

06/17/2020

2/5

Cheesy '70s horror with domestic abuse, stereotypes.

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Garry A

@heavyg Apr 25

This was surprisingly good for a PG 13 movie. A black driverless car goes around killing people. It was basic but effective.

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Dallas H

@FozzieMcFly Apr 12

After "Duel" (1971) and before "Christine" (1983), there was "The Car" (1977). Isolated highway drivers and small-town citizens, beware!

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Jonathan P

@jukeboxjohnnie Apr 5

Its seen as an important 70's horror film, and although some of the Cinematography is impressive, the writing is poor and although the cars visually okay, its no Christine, which is also ten times better than this film. The climax has some of the very worst acting Ive ever seen :-)

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Renee S

@The_Car_1977 Feb 7

I honestly loved The Car (1977) way more than I expected to. The idea of a mysterious black car with no driver going around terrorizing a desert town is simple, but it works incredibly well. From the first time the car shows up, it feels evil, and that low engine sound makes it even creepier. Every time it appears, you know something bad is about to happen.

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Amy C

@Amyc1971 Feb 2

Basic solid horror film. The analog world was far more dangerous, with people out of immediate contact with each other in dire situations. No one can help if you can't reach them!!

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Max M.

@Househuntermax Jan 12

I don’t care what other reviews say. This is one of my favorite movies of all time! Used to scare the bleep out of me when I was a kid. I still watch it about once a year. If you haven’t seen it, you need to watch it now.

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Elliot Silverstein

Director

James Brolin

Wade Parent

Kathleen Lloyd

Lauren

John Marley

Everett

R. G. Armstrong

Amos

John Rubinstein

John Morris

The Car: Official Clip - Brutality Against Bicyclists

2:14

The Car: Official Clip - Death to Hitchhikers

2:15

The Car: Official Clip - Trapped With the Car

3:35

The Car: Official Clip - Run Over

2:00

The Car: Official Clip - Demonic Explosion

1:28

The Car: Official Clip - Motorcycle Death Race

2:02

The Car: Official Clip - The Car Hates Cowboys

2:27

The Car: Official Clip - The Car Hates Cops

2:30

The Car: Official Clip - Hurting the Car's Feelings

3:13

The Car: Official Clip - Indoor Roadkill

1:06

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Synopsis

Two bicyclists are run down by a strange black car in the desert near a small town in Utah. But this is just the first in a series of hit-and-run murders. Sheriff Wade Parents (James Brolin) is called in to investigate, and his deputy, Everett (John Marley), is killed by the black sedan, which, some witnesses say, has no one behind its wheel. When the car threatens a local school parade, the lives of the town's children and Wade's teacher girlfriend, Lauren (Kathleen Lloyd), are endangered.

Director: Elliot Silverstein
Producer: Marvin Birdt, Elliot Silverstein
Screenwriter: Dennis Shryack, Michael Butler, Lane Slate
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror, Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 20, 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m