Far from a maximum effort with minimum results (Maximum Overdrive (DVD))

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	Maximum Overdrive (DVD)
Date:	14/07/09 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: There maybe some in there somewhere..?? ow yea..The Green Goblin

Disadvantages: Bad plot, crappy ending and somewhat dodgy acting,

Director: Stephen King
Producer: Martha Schumacher
Writer: Stephen King
Stars: Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, J.C. Quinn, Christopher Murney
Music performed by AC/DC

Note: this is a review on the movie only, mainly because I watched this on VHS video and there are no extras on the video, although there may be some on the DVD release.

Originally released in the summer of 1986 this 97 minute sci-fi action movie follows the rather strange events surrounding a roadside truck stop.

I was a big fan of Stephen King's novels, enjoying some of the movie adaptations as well, although not as good as the books I thought. But anyway, as King had wrote this strange sounding plot I wanted to see it when it first came out.
Unfortunately, little did I realise that King was as good at directing as Sumo wrestler is at Lap Dancing, the result being more comical than horrific, a massive anti-climax for all King's fans who expected that gripping style that King creates in his novels.
(In fact I do believe King was nominated for 'worst Director' for this effort, possibly leading his to decide never to direct again).
Although, due to it being such a bad horror it soon gained a cult following, possibly down to King's fans themselves and maybe others who watched the movie as a comedy horror, (more on the comical side), and it was actually nominated for best film at the International Fantasy film awards in 1988.



BRIEF PLOT...

Just outside Wilmington, North Carolina, there lies a small truck stop called The Dixie Boy, which is owned and run by the miserable Bubba Hendershot, (Pat Hingle).
Everything seems calm and tranquil in the semi-deserted haven, that is until the machines begin to act in a rather strange fashion, creating chaos throughout the entire world.
So with everything which is powered by electricity going crazy, the diners have no option but to run for their lives.
Unfortunately, when a convoy of self contolled 'big-rigs', seemingly led by the 'Green Goblin', trap the few customers inside the truck stop it is up to Bill Robinson, (Emilio Estevez), an ex-con with attitude, Brett, (Laura Harrington), a hitch hiker with an eye for ex-cons, together with husband and wife Connie and Curt, (Yeardley Smith and John Short), and the other diners to fight back before the trucks kill them all.
Fortunately for the fighting diners Bubba has a little secret surprise which will help in the battle of man against machine.


** IN CONCLUSION...


I remember first watching this back in the good old days on VHS video, (a brick sized black plastic casing that you may see knocking around at your parents home), back when it first came out and at the time thought it was one of the best movies of all time.
I recall settling down in front of the over sized television, hoping for a good hour and a half of entertainment. And it seemed to begin that way, having a lot of qualities that a good movie requires, such as a lead character, (Estevez in his younger days, although he did get nominated for 'worst actor in 1987), and a rather weird plot, (machines taking over the world...think 'Terminator' only a bit less serious, with a toaster playing the part of ), and some fast paced action combined with some good humour.

Unfortunately, as the movie rolled on I realised that Kings novel, Trucks, which this movie loosely follows, (and I emphasise the word loosely), was a lot better than this rather bizarre plot I was watching.
Don't get me wrong, it had its moments, mainly comical ones, although I don't think this was intended by King, but this was the end result. Plus, there are some gruesome moments, although these are as realistic as watching Big Daddy fight Giant haystacks, (remember them from the eighties?).
These nasty looking incidents involving household appliances, including a meat carver, a toaster and a food blender, which, as it is the mid 80s, do give it a good scare factor with that classic dollop of gore, although these days it looks more like a bottle of tomato sauce on a white t-shirt effect.

The plot has more holes in it than a tramps vest and the all round acting is a little like watching one of them Australian soaps, (everybody needs good ones), but this still doesn't really spoil the idea of the movie, making it worth watching at least once in your lifetime, just to see what a mixture of movies such as 'Terminator', 'Duel', 'Dusk till Dawn and 'Mad Max' would create, only with a more comical outlook.

For me the main star of the show was not Estevez, or even Harrington, it was actually The Green Goblin, the big mad truck with the green face attached to the front of it, happily chasing everyone around as it dragged its 'Happy Toyz' trailer behind itself, trying its best to squash as many people that it can under its massive tyres.
This crazily funny looking truck really stole the show with a big smile, although to be honest, most of the vehicles and electrical appliances did a better job of acting than the 'paid' performers, with some electrifying results.

The main downside to this 'entertaining' sci-fi comical horror is as to why the machines have suddenly decided to fight back against humanity as this is not found out until the very end. I know what you're thinking, the ending is the best place for the answers to be unearthed but the way this answer comes about is just too disappointingly quick, as if King rushed the ending to get out to the pub before it shut, it just seemed to fail what could have been an half decent movie, (I said half decent).

Would I recommend this to anyone..? Well, this is a difficult one to answer as I enjoyed it when I first watched it but I don't think I'd rush off to Blockbusters to rent it, even if they did a newer version. Although I would recommend trying to watch this if you see on advertised on the television, but I'd also recommend getting a few drinks in as well as it may help you forget that this is supposed to be a horror movie and not a comedy.
I do feel that most people would enjoy there first sitting with this one as it does have some comical moments during some bizarre scripting.

This DVD can be bought from amazon for less than a fiver, (although for free delivery you can get a trio of Kings movies which include this one, Catseyes and Silver Bullet, which I have not seen the latter two as yet for less than a tenner).

Plus...
I am not really one for adding anything about soundtracks but this one is different for me as it seemed to make this 'bizarre' movie a little more pleasing to watch. So a hats off to AC/DC for a cracking performance, which really gives this movie a boast of, may I say, dramatic mannerism, this is a must to see at least once in your life, if not for the plot but for the soundtrack itself.

NOTE:
AC/DC released the soundtrack, entitled 'Who Made me', with tracks including...

* Who made me
* You shook me all night long
* DT
* Sink the Pink
* Ride On
* Hell's Bells
* Shake you foundations Chase the Ace
* For those about to Rock

This soundtrack being available from amazon for less than £8.00.
With the original vinyl being now revamped and stamped onto disc, which I believe is supposed to be excellent quality and available for less than £8.00 from amazon.

Summary: So what did they spend the 10 million dollors on then...