Maximum Overdrive (1986) Review
December 4th 2010 19:45
It doesn't matter whether your a fan of Horror movies or not, you've probably seen at least one movie based on something Stephen King wrote. Dozens of classics, some well known and some obscure have been based on the work of the King of Horror, and more are destined to made in the future (Gunslinger . . .please?) However, there is only one incident where King took up the megaphone himself and directed a film, depending on who you talk to that's either a really good or reall bad thing. In my humble opinion, the purest product of Stephen King's deranged imagination is 1986's “Maximum Overdrive”.
The plot of the film is loosely based on Stephen King's short story
“Trucks”, Earth passes through the tail of a comet and for some reason machines of every kind, ranging from ATMs to Semi trucks come to life and go on a homicidal rampage, killing everyone in their path. This spelled trouble for the staff of the Dixie Boy truck stop, where the massive trucks they serviced encircled the establishment, brutally running down anyone trying to leave. Bill Robinson, A hapless ex-con working at the truck stop, decides that escape is the only option, and leads the survivors in a perilous escape.
The real joy of this movie isn't so much in it's storyline (as gripping as it is) but the splatter fest that ensues in nearly every scene. Coke Machines go berserk and pelt people with cans, Lawn mowers run wild, an ice-cream truck goes nuts and chases children in the street (while it bizarrely plays an ice-cream truck version of “King of the Road”) and an ATM spouts out profanity instead of money. A memorable scene has a homicidal steamroller take out an entire little league team. In the unrated Laser-disc version of the film one of the kid's heads explode in a massive blood splatter as the steamroller runs him over. It's rumored that at a preliminary screening George A Romero himself vomited while watching this scene. Having the director of “Night of the Living dead” blow chunks because your movie is too gory for him if quite a feather in anyone's cap. While the directing is okay for about half the film, the other half it's amateurish and in some scenes just plain bad. King explains he was “Coked out of mind” while making the movie and admits “I had no idea what I was doing” in an FAQ on his website he answers the question “Will you ever direct another movie?” By saying “No, have you actually SEEN Maximum Overdrive?”.
One of the massive sets of the film, the Dixie Boy truck stop, was actually fully constructed. It was so convincing that some truck drivers spotted it and walked into the diver expecting to be served, other burst inside complaining the fuel pumps weren't working. Eventually the production had to print adds in the local paper and put up signs declaring the Dixie boy was just a movie set, and not a real truck stop. Rumors are abound that parked trucks in some scenes are real truckers parking there to take a nap, still thinking it was real. A bizarre twist to this story is that after the movie was done filming, some locals bought was was left of the set and turned it into a real truck stop that was in business for several years.
Of all people, Australian rock outfit AC/DC was chosen not to just write a song for the film (which they did) but score the entire thing! Stephen King himself insisted that the high-octane sound that AC/DC produced would be perfect for the film, and he was dead on. The movie's score is perfect, peppered with AC/DC's greatest hits like “hells bell” And “Who made who”.
While many people have poked fun at the movie's cheese-ball storyline and ridiculous concept, it was never meant to be “Citizen Kane” Stephen King admits he writes “Cheeseburger and Fries” literature and I can confidently say his movie making is in the same vein. “Maximum Overdrive” is an action-packed, gore-splattered horror film that delivers what it promises, so why not just enjoy it? IN this case Stephen King learned it takes Stephen King to direct a Stephen King movie.
The Wicked Promo poster for this movie, sure made me want to see it!
The real joy of this movie isn't so much in it's storyline (as gripping as it is) but the splatter fest that ensues in nearly every scene. Coke Machines go berserk and pelt people with cans, Lawn mowers run wild, an ice-cream truck goes nuts and chases children in the street (while it bizarrely plays an ice-cream truck version of “King of the Road”) and an ATM spouts out profanity instead of money. A memorable scene has a homicidal steamroller take out an entire little league team. In the unrated Laser-disc version of the film one of the kid's heads explode in a massive blood splatter as the steamroller runs him over. It's rumored that at a preliminary screening George A Romero himself vomited while watching this scene. Having the director of “Night of the Living dead” blow chunks because your movie is too gory for him if quite a feather in anyone's cap. While the directing is okay for about half the film, the other half it's amateurish and in some scenes just plain bad. King explains he was “Coked out of mind” while making the movie and admits “I had no idea what I was doing” in an FAQ on his website he answers the question “Will you ever direct another movie?” By saying “No, have you actually SEEN Maximum Overdrive?”.
The hero of the film Bill, played by Emilio Estevez. The Villian of the film, A truck, played by a 1981 Western Star. Cool truck!
Of all people, Australian rock outfit AC/DC was chosen not to just write a song for the film (which they did) but score the entire thing! Stephen King himself insisted that the high-octane sound that AC/DC produced would be perfect for the film, and he was dead on. The movie's score is perfect, peppered with AC/DC's greatest hits like “hells bell” And “Who made who”.
While many people have poked fun at the movie's cheese-ball storyline and ridiculous concept, it was never meant to be “Citizen Kane” Stephen King admits he writes “Cheeseburger and Fries” literature and I can confidently say his movie making is in the same vein. “Maximum Overdrive” is an action-packed, gore-splattered horror film that delivers what it promises, so why not just enjoy it? IN this case Stephen King learned it takes Stephen King to direct a Stephen King movie.
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