Race with the Devil

Another 70s movie that anyone who's a fan of the time period should watch. Another movie that I probably wasn't old enough to watch when I did.

It manages to be a creepy movie that's suspensful. Was probably only beanded a horror because it was made at abtime when there were a lot of cult activities in the news. I'd say it's more a thriller.

I honestly don't think it's aged badly. It also has the benefit of not needing the "we've got no mobile signal" line that modern movies suffer from.

Not a classic movie perhaps, but a good little thriller with some very tense moments (like the fight with the snakes - I wonder how they did that) and a few spectacular car chases (the stuntwork is excellent). Director Jack Starrett does an effective job of creating a feeling of (justified) paranoia and conspiracy: what the heroes presume is a weird orgy turns out to be ritualistic murder, and what's worse for them, the initially small group of devil worshippers appears to be supported by entire towns! Peter Fonda and Warren Oates create two believable, down-to-earth characters that you can easily root for; on the other hand, the women are reduced to useless screamers during the moments of danger, in what I seriously consider the biggest annoyance of this film. (***)

I have not read through all the reviews, so I'm hoping no one spoils the ending. Read the ones marked spoiler after watching the movie.

Considering how long ago this was made, it was a very cool movie. Starts off a little slow, but once you see the bonfire start, things pick up.

Roger (Peter Fonda) and his buddy, Frank (Warren Oates) take their wives, Alice (Loretta Swit) and Kelly (Laura Parker) on a nice vacation in a large motor-home. There are some comical scenes, some sad scenes, some motorcycle action and, of course, some suspense and action. I have to agree with one reviewer about the women being in it to provide screaming and in fear of almost everyone else in the movie. The car chase scenes were very good. You won't see any gross scenes in this. I would recommend seeing the movie. Enjoy!

As low budget horror movies go, "Race With The Devil" has aged well. The plot is simple--two couples en route to Aspen for a long overdue skiing vacation, end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, and witness a human sacrifice. The rest of the film deals with their attempts to escape their pursuers, who happen to be modern day witches! Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) and Lara Parker (Dark Shadows) are the couples in question, and R.G. Armstrong is the local sheriff they enlist to help them. All the performances are fine, especially the vastly underrated Oates, who is only now receiving the acclaim long due him, (he has since passed away) and his acting is as compelling as ever. The just-released DVD includes a commentary from producer Paul Maslansky and Lara Parker, a retrospective documentary with Peter Fonda, trailer, still and poster galleries and radio spots. Enhanced for widescreen TVs the film looks great, and is a great one to watch late at night (if not alone) when you feel the need for a few genuine scares.

Let's hop into the wayback machine and return to the North Cedar Drive-In Theatre in Spokane, Washington, circa 1975. It's hot and muggy and my best friend and I are seeing maybe the fortieth movie of the summer, sitting in my Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser or his 12 year old F-250 (I can't remember which). We sit back to watch Race With the Devil, an obvious B-grade horror flick we've heard great things about from friends.

I haven't seen Jack Starrett's RWD since that night in the summer of '75, but I distinctly remember how good it was, how merrily hell-bent-for-leather the action was, and the way it tied into our goofy fear of Satanic cults and human chains thirty years ago. If you were around the greater Spokane area (now there's an oxymoron!) way back when, you must have heard the stories coming out of Rathdrum, Idaho, north of Coeur d'Alene. This flick was shot in the southwest, but with all the rural versions of urban legends clanking about the Idaho Panhandle, Race With the Devil seemed like a home movie.

I believe the movie made a gob of money that year.

I recommend Race With the Devil in no small part for the fact that it's obvious the people involved are having a great time, a must for a low-budget movie. It has the pacing and the chills to scare teenagers wearing long hair and bell bottoms and, I'm sure after I order a copy from Amazon, it will put a grin on the face of this paunchy, middle-aged nostalgist.