Directed in 1977 by Elliot Silverstein, author of several episodes of the TV series The Twilight Zone and Tales from the crypt, The black car (aka The Car) is an action/horror/fantasy that has made its way into the public imagination, earning an important place among the titles in the strand about killing machines and securing a dense group of admirers.
The film is based on Duel by Steven Spielberg, also paying homage in part to The Shark, also by the same director.
Plot: A small Utah town is terrorized by a mysterious black car that, at high speed, runs over pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles. Wade Parent (James Brolin), the local sheriff, may be the only one who can stop the creepy car that, with no one driving, appears to be possessed by evil.
Although the story may seem predictable, it is nonetheless engaging thanks to the crucial and tension-filled moments when the funereal and menacing car (similar to a hearse) is on stage, such as the investment of cyclists and pedestrians, or the sequences at the cemetery, that of the incredible final confrontation, and, above all, the surprising moment when the car drives through a house from side to side.
Shrouded in an almost demonic aura, the relentless black bolide is definitely the object on which the audience's attention is focused. With its eerie subjectivities and distressing honking sound, it remains an unforgettable instrument of death and terror.
The black car also enchants with the sublime and evocative desert locations, the dusty landscapes through which the mysterious car speeds. All this is then accentuated by a well-rendered cinematography that emphasizes the contrast of warm and cold colors. In general, the acting performance of the cast (especially James Brolin) is also good.
Built on the tension generated by the apparitions of the diabolical medium, The black car by Elliot Silverstein remains a film that, despite its age, retains its appeal.
In the cast: James Brolin, R.G. Armstrong, Ronny Coy, Kathleen Lloyd, John Rubinstein , John Marley and Elizabeth Thompson. The screenplay is by Dennis Shryack, Michael Butler and Lane Slate.
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Distributed by CG Entertainment, The black car is available, as of April 4, on both DVD and Blu-ray from Pulp Video. The Blu-ray edition features neat packaging. Also good are the audio and video compartments, which, free of defects, leave you satisfied.
Blu-ray Edition:
Video: HD 1080 24p 16/9 2.35:1
Duration: 96′
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 | Italian, Dolby Digital 2.0 | English
N. Discs: 1
Subtitles: Italian
