Terry's Reviews
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Race With The
Devil Anchor Bay Entertainment – 2005 Directed by Jack Starrett Written by Wes Bishop and Lee Frost Starring |
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| I remember liking
this movie so much as a kid that when I saw it back around the time of JAWS, that I got
together with some friends and we constructed a plan to carry out as adults. We thought it
would be cool to buy an RV, load it with food and other amenities, drive across the
country and then go shark fishing. It’s amazing how impressionable children can be
and the power of movies. We never did it but I do admit that RACE WITH THE DEVIL had an
emotional impact on me. Anchor Bay Entertainment has lovingly put together the movie, a short documentary, audio commentary, trailers & teasers for this underrated terror classic. Peter Fonda (Roger March) and Warren Oates (Frank Stewart) star as two friends who have planned five years to go on a road trip across the country in an RV. They’re prepared to go motorbike riding, and water skiing. They bring along their wives played by Lara Parker (Dark Shadows) and Loretta Swit (M.A.S.H.). Everything seems great as they head across the country. On the first evening they pull their RV onto a dirt road that leads to a magnificent spot along dirt cliffs that border a river. That night as Fonda and Oates are drinking outside the RV, they see a bonfire lit on the other side of the ravine. Taking binoculars, they watch in horror as a satanic cult stabs a naked woman with a knife. To make matters worse, this is right about the time Loretta Swit’s character Alice Stewart sticks her head out the RV yelling for the guys to come back inside. The Satanists hear Alice’s voice and immediately rush to get to the people who just witnessed them committing a murder. From this point forward the two couples have been marked by the Satanists, which seem to be the town, if not literally the whole Texas County. The Satan worshippers follow and track them down to the bleak end. The audio commentary with Laura Parker and Producer Paul Maslansky is full of anecdotes about making the film in Texas. Maslansky says he stepped in last minute to take over the reins on the production at the same time Jack Starrett took over as director. Parker was somewhat surprised the first director was let go but got along great with Jack Starrett. Parker is candid saying didn’t really like Peter Fonda because he was a bit standoffish. Maslansky says that the "Ring of Fire" ending was something they came up with last minute admitting they never really did have a true ending. Peter Fonda looks back to the making of the film in Hell On Wheels. The Trailers and radio spots are fun and took me back to the advertising approach of the 70s. The photo gallery was fun to look at as I always appreciate seeing on and off the set stills. RACE WITH THE DEVIL is a ferocious film that features gripping suspense chase scenes and standout stunts. I highly recommend it to everyone. |
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