Race with the Devil

Race with the Devil

1975

Director- Jack Starrett

Cast- Warren Oates, Peter Fonda, Lara Parker, Loretta Switt, R.G. Armstrong

        Race with the Devil is marketed as a Satanic car chase film, though in truth, the car

chase doesn’t begin until relatively late in the film. A pair of motorcycle enthusiasts (veteran

actor Warren Oates and Peter Fonda, who would one day play the devil himself in another motorcycle film, Ghost Rider) take a much needed vacation in their new RV, accompanied by their girlfriends ( Loretta Switt, in a relatively small role considering she was also starring in the hit show M.A.S.H. at the time and Lara Parker whom horror fans may know from Dark Shadows).

            While exploring the great outdoors of Texas, the two fellows accidentally witness a human sacrifice (this scene is shown on TV in the Tom Hanks comedy The Burbs) in a Satanic ritual. From that point on they are hunted by the cult in an attempt to silence them. Most of this takes place in the form of warnings or traps (such as putting rattlesnakes in the RV). The final 20 minutes of the film finally culminates in the promised car chase, and to be fair it is a decent car chase, complete with a few daring stunts.

The film is billed as an action-horror film but I don’t think that car chases were the director’s forte. You most likely know Jack Starret from his acting roles in First Blood and Blazing Saddles. As a horror film, it doesn’t really work either, being more suspenseful than scary. This film begs for a remake from someone like George Miller or Quentin Tarantino.

Despite its short comings, Race with the Devil makes for a fun distraction and some people will be able to appreciate the unmistakable 70s feel.