Race with the Devil

Last updated

Race with the Devil
RaceWithTheDevil.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jack Starrett
Written by
Produced byWes Bishop
Starring
CinematographyRobert Jessup
Edited by John F. Link
Music by Leonard Rosenman
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • June 27, 1975 (1975-06-27)
Running time
88 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.745 million [2]
Box office$12 million [3] or $6 million [4]

Race with the Devil is a 1975 American action horror film directed by Jack Starrett, written by Wes Bishop and Lee Frost, and starring Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit, and Lara Parker. Its plot follows two couples on a road trip who are pursued by a Satanic cult after witnessing a human sacrifice while camping in rural Texas. This was the second of three films Fonda and Oates would star in together ( The Hired Hand , (1971) was their first, and 92 in the Shade (1975) was their third). Race with the Devil is a hybrid of the horror, action, and car chase genres.

Contents

Plot

Roger Marsh and Frank Stewart own a successful motorcycle dealership in San Antonio, Texas. Together with their wives Kelly and Alice, and Kelly's small dog, they leave San Antonio in a recreational vehicle (RV) for a much anticipated ski vacation in Aspen, Colorado. Along the way, they set up camp in a desolate meadow in central Texas, where Roger and Frank race their motorcycles together. Later that night, after their wives retire to the RV, the men witness what turns out to be a Satanic ritual human sacrifice (Peggy Kokernot) a short distance from their campsite, across a river.

After being chased by the Satanists and barely escaping with their lives, they arrive in a small town and report the incident to Sheriff Taylor, who investigates but attempts to convince them that they probably only saw hippies killing an animal. Unbeknownst to the sheriff, Roger steals a sample of dirt stained with the murder victim's blood, intent on delivering it to the authorities in Amarillo, as he became suspicious of being driven to the crime scene without having to offer any directions.

At the same time, while cleaning, the wives find a cryptic rune pinned to the broken rear window of the RV, and they steal books about occultism from the local library to further research the incident, unaware they're being watched by a man in a red truck. One of the books reveals that the ritual is what Satanists often perform to gain magical powers. As the foursome leaves town, the sheriff notices the red truck that begins to follow the RV, making it clear that he is either aware or part of the Satanic cult.

When the couples arrive at an RV park, Kelly sees she is being stared at by its residents while in a swimming pool and wants to return home. Nonetheless, she accepts a dinner invitation from another couple at the park. While at the restaurant/nightclub, Kelly again sees she is being stared at menacingly, this time by one of the musicians. When they return from dinner, the group discovers that Kelly's dog has been killed and hanged from the RV's broken open door, causing them to immediately leave the park. Shortly afterward, they find two rattlesnakes planted in the cupboards by the cultists. The frightened Kelly and Alice scream and panic, causing Frank to accidentally drive into a tree and break the RV motor's fan before the snakes are killed.

The next day, Kelly's dog is buried, after which Roger and Frank repair the motor and find their motorbikes' tires, wheels and gas tanks cut. They purchase a shotgun and head towards Amarillo while being spied on by a steadily increasing number of cultists who seem to be networked throughout numerous small Texas towns. When Roger tries to place a long-distance call to the highway patrol, he finds one dead payphone and another with a "bad connection", and is told that long-distance service is down by a "big wind from up north".

The couples leave for Amarillo and are chased by the Satanists in various trucks, which the couples escape. Later, they encounter a staged school bus "accident" that Frank sees through, since it occurs on a Sunday, and none of the children appear hurt. The couples flee the scene and have another showdown with the cult members during another high-speed chase that pits their RV against numerous trucks and cars. Roger and Frank kill or injure most of the attackers, and the couples escape.

The RV's headlights were damaged during the chase, which forces the foursome to stop in a field at nightfall. They begin to celebrate when they pick up a radio signal coming from Amarillo. In the middle of their celebration, they hear chanting outside the RV and find themselves surrounded by cult members wearing black robes with hoods, including Sheriff Taylor and the couple with whom they had dinner. The film ends as the cultists light a ring of fire around the RV, trapping the couples inside while the chanting continues.

Cast

Production

Race with the Devil was shot on location in Bandera, San Antonio, Castroville, Tarpley, and Leakey, Texas in 1975 from January to March. Director Jack Starrett later claimed he hired actual Satanists to serve as cultist extras, although that statement was likely made for publicity purposes. [5] [6] Starrett directed the similar B-movie action film A Small Town in Texas the following year. [7]

Release

20th Century Fox released the film theatrically in the United States, in June 1975. Box office receipts were more than U.S. $12M domestically, and it earned an equal amount internationally. [8] It earned North American rentals of $5.8 million. [9] [10]

Critical reception

Race with the Devil received mixed reviews from critics. [11] [12] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 67% rating based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 5.6/10. [13] The film has developed a strong cult following since the advent of home media. [14]

Home media

In October, 1985, CBS/Fox Video released it on its Key Video logo. In October 1991, then-newly established FoxVideo reissued it. In 2005, Anchor Bay Entertainment released the film on DVD. This version is currently out of print.

On April 12, 2011, Shout! Factory released the film on DVD, packaged as a double feature with another Peter Fonda film, Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry . As of June 4, 2013, this double feature set is available on Blu-ray; and it is available online for streaming rentals and purchases through Amazon Video, the ITunes Store, and Vudu.

Remakes

A remake was planned in 2005, written by Drew McWeeny and Scott Swan, with Chris Moore (of Project Greenlight fame) to serve as director. [15]

Kevin Smith has said Race With the Devil was a strong influence on his film Red State (2011). [16] The film was also the basis for the Tamil language film Kazhugu (Eagle), released in 1981, and Drive Angry starring Nicolas Cage, released in 2011.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Shane</i> (film) 1953 film by George Stevens

Shane is a 1953 American Technicolor Western film starring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, and Van Heflin. Released by Paramount Pictures, the film is noted for its landscape cinematography, editing, performances, and contributions to the genre. The picture was produced and directed by George Stevens from a screenplay by A. B. Guthrie Jr., based on the 1949 novel of the same name by Jack Schaefer. Its Oscar-winning cinematography was by Loyal Griggs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Fonda</span> American actor and filmmaker (1940–2019)

Peter Henry Fonda was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He was a two-time Academy Award nominee, both for acting and screenwriting, and a two-time Golden Globe Award winner for his acting. He was a member of the Fonda acting family, as the son of actor Henry Fonda, the brother of actress and activist Jane Fonda, and the father of actress Bridget Fonda.

<i>Lake Placid</i> (film) 1999 film by Steve Miner

Lake Placid is a 1999 American comedy horror film directed by Steve Miner and written by David E. Kelley. It is the first installment in the Lake Placid film series and stars Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Brendan Gleeson, Oliver Platt, Betty White, Meredith Salenger, and Mariska Hargitay. In the film, a giant crocodile terrorizes the fictional location of Black Lake, Maine, while a dysfunctional group of police and scientists attempt to capture or kill the beast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Oates</span> American actor (1928–1982)

Warren Mercer Oates was an American actor best known for his performances in several films directed by Sam Peckinpah, including The Wild Bunch (1969) and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974). Another of his most acclaimed performances was as officer Sam Wood in In the Heat of the Night (1967). Oates starred in numerous films during the early 1970s that have since achieved cult status, such as The Hired Hand (1971), Two-Lane Blacktop (1971), and Race with the Devil (1975). Oates also portrayed John Dillinger in the biopic Dillinger (1973) and as the supporting character U.S. Army Sergeant Hulka in the military comedy Stripes (1981). Another notable appearance was in the classic New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs (1977), in which he played the commander of the American forces in the country.

<i>Bless the Child</i> 2000 film by Chuck Russell

Bless the Child is a 2000 supernatural horror film directed by Chuck Russell and starring Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Angela Bettis, Rufus Sewell, Christina Ricci, and Holliston Coleman. It follows a woman who discovers that her niece, whom she has adopted, is being sought by a Satanic cult seeking to use her supernatural abilities. It is based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Cathy Cash Spellman. The film is a co-production between the United States, Canada and Germany.

<i>Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry</i> 1974 film by John Hough

Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry is a 1974 American road crime drama film based on the 1963 Richard Unekis novel titled The Chase. Directed by John Hough, the film stars Peter Fonda, Susan George, Adam Roarke, and Vic Morrow. Although Jimmie Haskell is credited with writing the music score, the soundtrack contains no incidental music apart from the theme song "Time ", sung by Marjorie McCoy, over the opening and closing titles, and a small amount of music heard over the radio.

<i>The Reaping</i> 2007 American film

The Reaping is a 2007 American supernatural horror thriller film, starring Hilary Swank. The film was directed by Stephen Hopkins for Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and Dark Castle Entertainment. The music for the film was scored by John Frizzell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Starrett</span> American actor

Claude Ennis "Jack" Starrett Jr. was an American actor and film director.

<i>The Car</i> (1977 film) 1977 film by Elliot Silverstein

The Car is a 1977 American supernatural horror film directed by Elliot Silverstein and written by Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack and Lane Slate. The film stars James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley and Ronny Cox, along with real-life sisters Kim and Kyle Richards. It tells the story of a black unmanned self-driving mysterious car that goes on a murderous rampage, terrorizing the residents of a small town.

<i>The Devils Rain</i> (film) 1975 film by Robert Fuest

The Devil's Rain is a 1975 supernatural horror film directed by Robert Fuest. The ensemble cast includes William Shatner, Tom Skerritt, Ernest Borgnine, Eddie Albert, Ida Lupino and Keenan Wynn. John Travolta made his film debut in a minor role. During filming, Travolta converted to the Scientology religion after co-star Joan Prather gave him a copy of the book Dianetics written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Satanist Anton LaVey is credited as the film's technical advisor and appeared in the film playing a minor role. Although it takes place in an unspecified part of the American Southwest, the movie was shot in Durango, Mexico.

<i>The Believers</i> 1987 film by John Schlesinger

The Believers is a 1987 Canadian-American neo-noir thriller horror-noir film directed by John Schlesinger, starring Martin Sheen, Robert Loggia and Helen Shaver. It is based on the 1982 novel The Religion by Nicholas Conde.

<i>Switchback</i> (film) 1997 American film

Switchback is a 1997 American crime thriller film written and directed by Jeb Stuart in his directorial debut. It stars Dennis Quaid, Danny Glover, Jared Leto, Ted Levine, William Fichtner and R. Lee Ermey. An FBI agent tracks his son's kidnapper to Amarillo, Texas, where two lawmen are seeking to use the case in their election bid.

<i>A Small Town in Texas</i> 1976 film by Jack Starrett

A Small Town in Texas is a 1976 action film directed by Jack Starrett and starring Bo Hopkins, Susan George, and Timothy Bottoms. It was filmed in Lockhart, Texas.

<i>Werewolves on Wheels</i> 1971 film by Michel Levesque

Werewolves on Wheels is a 1971 American exploitation film directed by Michel Levesque and starring Stephen Oliver, D.J. Anderson, and Deuce Barry. It blends two genres: the outlaw biker film and the traditional horror film.

<i>The Devil Rides Out</i> (film) 1968 British film by Terence Fisher

The Devil Rides Out, is a 1968 British horror film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Christopher Lee, Charles Gray, Niké Arrighi and Leon Greene. It was written by Richard Matheson based on the 1934 novel of the same title by Dennis Wheatley.

<i>Kid Blue</i> 1973 film by James Frawley

Kid Blue is a 1973 American Comedy Western film directed by James Frawley and starring Dennis Hopper, Warren Oates, Lee Purcell, Peter Boyle and Ben Johnson.

<i>Drive Angry</i> 2011 film by Patrick Lussier

Drive Angry is a 2011 American action horror film in the exploitation cinema tradition, directed by Patrick Lussier, who co-wrote it with Todd Farmer. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner, Billy Burke, Charlotte Ross, Katy Mixon, and Tom Atkins. Photographed in 3D, the film was released on February 25.

<i>Malatestas Carnival of Blood</i> American horror film

Malatesta's Carnival of Blood is a 1973 American horror film, directed by Christopher Speeth and written by Werner Liepolt. It is the only film that Speeth and Liepolt made.

<i>Hail Satan?</i> 2019 American film

Hail Satan? is a 2019 American documentary film about the origins of The Satanic Temple, including the group's grassroots political activism. Directed by Penny Lane, the film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and was released in the United States on April 19, distributed by Magnolia Pictures. The film follows Satanists working to preserve the separation of church and state against the privileges of the Christian right.

<i>Psycho from Texas</i> 1975 American horror film

Psycho from Texas is a 1975 American low-budget horror film directed by Jack Collins and Jim Feazell. The plot concerns a hitman being hired to kill an oil baron, who escapes and runs for his life. The movie was filmed in El Dorado, Arkansas.

References

  1. ↑ "RACE WITH THE DEVIL (AA)". British Board of Film Classification . June 19, 1975. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  2. ↑ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN   978-0-8108-4244-1. p258
  3. ↑ "Race with the Devil, Box Office Information". The Numbers. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  4. ↑ Goldman, Lowell (Fall 1990). "Peter Fonda: I Know What It's Like to Be Dead". Psychotronic Video. No. 7. p. 36.
  5. ↑ "Filming Locations for Race with the Devil". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Trivia for Race with the Devil". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
  7. ↑ "Biography for Jack Starrett". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Race with the Devil (1975) - Financial Information".
  9. ↑ Solomon, p 232
  10. ↑ "All-time Film Rental Champs". Variety. January 7, 1976. p. 46.
  11. ↑ "Review: Race With the Devil". Eccentric Cinema Review. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Review: Race With the Devil". The Terror Trap.
  13. ↑ "Race with the Devil (1975)". Rotten Tomatoes . Flixster. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Race with the Devil".
  15. ↑ "Rotten Tomatoes, News Item 6 Apr 2005". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 19, 2007.[ dead link ]
  16. ↑ "Kevin Smith Compares 'Red State' to 'Race With the Devil'". bloodydisgusting.com. April 13, 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.