Viewed in
2013
Formats
HDTV (90-minute theatrical version)
Premise
A highway commuter is terrorized by a big-ass truck. One of Steven Spielberg's earliest works.
Liked
Nail-biting vehicle chases scenes.
Thoughts
It was much more exciting than I expected.
A lot of the vehicle sequences were exhilarating, thanks to deft technical execution, in-your-face camera choices, and fantastic sound design. Oddly enough, despite the numerous action-packed car chases, the whole dynamic between the protagonist and the inhuman killer played more like a Hitchcock-like cat-and-mouse thriller. The pacing had to do with that, as the film makers knew when to let Dennis Weaver (and audience) breathe and gather his thoughts, and when to crank up the danger.
Since it was Spielberg at the helm, a lot of people have rightfully compared it to Jaws. But I'd like to throw in a another movie into the discussion: The Terminator, as I sat on pins and needles, wondering if our hapless hero tried to survive (not win) against this hulking, invulnerable mechanical monstrosity that Just. Won't. Stop.
As a Southern Californian, there was also the added bonus of recognizing a lot of desert highways and landscapes throughout.
Obviously, this was far from perfect. Not only was the premise outrageous, but the movie physics was a bit laughable, as this gargantuan semi was able haul ass at over 90 miles an hour, could hold nearly infinite gas, and mock the laws of inertia. Some of the plot logic was outdated, since some scenes wouldn't happen in the age of cell phones. The acting was so-so, and Weaver's internal monologues just felt cheesy.
Much like The Fast and the Furious flicks, turn your sense of plausibility off, and enjoy this fun thriller thanks to smart pacing and bound-for-greatness camera choices from Spielberg.
