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Amazon.co.uk Review
"I'm gonna scare the hell out of you" intones Stephen King in the trailer for his sole directorial effort, the much-maligned Maximum Overdrive. While the end result doesn't live up to that boast, this SF/horror tale isn't as awful as it's been described. King's script (based on his short story "Trucks") focuses on the patrons of a North Carolina truck stop, which comes under attack by a convoy of trucks and other machines animated by Earth's passage through the tail of a "rogue comet".
King's fans, tired of half-baked screen adaptations such as Cujo and Children of the Corn, expected a horror home run from Maximum Overdrive and instead got an old-fashioned drive-in movie filled with car crashes, cheapjack gore and fart jokes. Needless to say, they stayed away in droves; the film's failure helped ruin producer Dino De Laurentiis's DEG Films and forced King sheepishly to claim that he had created a modern-day Plan Nine from Outer Space. While the film is torpidly paced and often amateurishly acted, it's no worse than any direct-to-video thriller, and King's ear for dialogue occasionally shines through the gloom. Emilio Estevez and Pat Hingle register as a heroic cook and his black-hearted boss, respectively; the cast includes Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson's voice), Giancarlo Esposito and Marla Maples as a victim. --Paul Gaita, Amazon.com
Synopsis
At first the problems on Earth seem minor as gas pumps stop pumping fuel, video games flash and beep uncontrollably, and soda machines spit change and soda pop wildly. However, when the carnage begins, a small group of people are left make a last stand against a horde of massive 18-wheelers. A comic horror flick from Stephen King, based on his short story "Trucks."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Stephen King is a great if not the greatest horror writer alive today, but when it comes to the film adaptations of his books, I've always felt that they've been hit or miss. Thankfully Maximum Overdrive is not as bad as some people (critics) may want you to believe, and despite a few failing is beyond doubt a hit.
Based in North Carolina (as far as I can recall), the residents come under attack from a host of machines that have came 'alive' by the Earth passing into the path of a comet. Some people take cover in a diner / gas station but soon trucks of all nature start circling in a blood-thirsty-dance. The film has plenty going for it. There's car crashes, plenty of action and explosions, some gore, a good script with good dialogue, and it's actually very comical in places. If you have a darker sense of humour that is. One scene that comes to mind is with the soda machine on the baseball field, and of course the cash machine with attitude at the beginning of the film. While Maximum Overdrive is not scary as such, it's still a bit frightening in places and the AC/DC soundtrack was a welcome bonus, ideal for the tone of the film.
The acting from Emilio Estevez is great (not everyone will agree) but otherwise I felt that some of the acting for others is a bit poor in places "We made you...we made you!" You'll probably notice a few plot holes and errors but these are noting major are don't by any means ruin Maximum Overdrive. Still I felt that a few things could have been done better, hence only four stars.
But otherwise the film is enjoyable while being laid back and doesn't demand much from you. I'll admit that it's not the best Stephen King around, but it's still well worth a watch.
Based in North Carolina (as far as I can recall), the residents come under attack from a host of machines that have came 'alive' by the Earth passing into the path of a comet. Some people take cover in a diner / gas station but soon trucks of all nature start circling in a blood-thirsty-dance. The film has plenty going for it. There's car crashes, plenty of action and explosions, some gore, a good script with good dialogue, and it's actually very comical in places. If you have a darker sense of humour that is. One scene that comes to mind is with the soda machine on the baseball field, and of course the cash machine with attitude at the beginning of the film. While Maximum Overdrive is not scary as such, it's still a bit frightening in places and the AC/DC soundtrack was a welcome bonus, ideal for the tone of the film.
The acting from Emilio Estevez is great (not everyone will agree) but otherwise I felt that some of the acting for others is a bit poor in places "We made you...we made you!" You'll probably notice a few plot holes and errors but these are noting major are don't by any means ruin Maximum Overdrive. Still I felt that a few things could have been done better, hence only four stars.
But otherwise the film is enjoyable while being laid back and doesn't demand much from you. I'll admit that it's not the best Stephen King around, but it's still well worth a watch.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A fantastic movie with what seems to be a very small cast, then introducing Emilio Estevez, and a very young "Lisa Simpson" - Cuurrrtis, is he Daaayyyyd!! This is Stephen King not realising he's at his best! The exclusively AC/DC soundtrack ('Who Made Who' album!) is just perfect for the movie, every emotion & action felt through Angus Young & the lads amazing riffs, beats & bass lines! Who knew the ice-cream man would be so scary!! Now every time I hear it outside, I lock the door & cut the power! In all, For Those About to Be Shocked with this classic little-known movie, We Salute You!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you like Stephen King type horror, AC/DC or Emilio Estevez then you will love this film!
As a child of the late sixties I saw this when it first came out in '86 and remembered it to be good. Only just found the DVD and now I know why! It is the first film actually directed by King and although the story is completely far fetched and somewhat cheesy, the way it is put together and shot with some odd camera angles make it very watchable. It is also surprisingly gory for a film of this era and includes death by some extremely weird methods including bridge, lawnmower and Coke can! as various machines run amok.
Also the soundtrack to the film is pretty much 100% hard rockin AC/DC which of course apawned the album "Who Made Who"... one of my faves!
Also worth mentioning is a great performance by a very young Esteves and the film also features the then unknown Yeardly "Lisa Simpson" Smith as Connie.
Great entertainment... glad I found it!
Enjoy... Mark
As a child of the late sixties I saw this when it first came out in '86 and remembered it to be good. Only just found the DVD and now I know why! It is the first film actually directed by King and although the story is completely far fetched and somewhat cheesy, the way it is put together and shot with some odd camera angles make it very watchable. It is also surprisingly gory for a film of this era and includes death by some extremely weird methods including bridge, lawnmower and Coke can! as various machines run amok.
Also the soundtrack to the film is pretty much 100% hard rockin AC/DC which of course apawned the album "Who Made Who"... one of my faves!
Also worth mentioning is a great performance by a very young Esteves and the film also features the then unknown Yeardly "Lisa Simpson" Smith as Connie.
Great entertainment... glad I found it!
Enjoy... Mark
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Unbalanced and lacklustre effort from the king of horror
Maximum Overdrive is really only worth 2 stars. However I grew up in the 80's and this film has remained very sentimental to me, so I gave the other star for this, and this... Read more
Published 20 days ago by Colonel Decker
Indescribably Bad
Steven King's short sories are usually good, occasionally brilliant. This one (Trucks) is between good and very good. The film? Well, one star says it all.
Dire.
Dire.
Published 1 month ago by fat man on a bicycle
Maximum Overdrive
This is one of those movies which I will watch several times. It is about when the machines rebel and try to take over the world, by going on a murderous rampage. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Arthur Walton
B Movie Slaughter.
Maximum Overdrive is an intentional homage to old school B horrors like The Blob or Day of the Triffids yet is also a full on 18 cert apocalypse movie with gore like Dawn of the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by j.r
CLASSIC FILM
I absolutely love this film, it`s one of my many favourite 80`s films and will always be in my collection!
I even bought the AC/DC WHO MADE WHO album after watching it! Read more
I even bought the AC/DC WHO MADE WHO album after watching it! Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mrs. J. Platt
ACDC ROCKS MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE ROCKS
I Love this film, it's awesome.
i'm 12 and when i watched this film it blew my mind. My fave scene is when the machine gun kills some of the survivors in the diner and when... Read more
i'm 12 and when i watched this film it blew my mind. My fave scene is when the machine gun kills some of the survivors in the diner and when... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Sam lewis
Watch it. Watch it now.
In the mid 80s, Stephen King set out to make the definitive version of a film of his epic story Trucks. Others had tried (Lucas, Kubrick, Spielberg, Hitchcock) and all failed. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2010 by seun
Good film
I bought this film as a gift for my partner because he'd wanted it for a long time and couldn't find it anywhere. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2009 by J. Wood
disposable truck based horror from Steven King
disposable truck based horror from Steven King with an AC/DC soundtrack. Whats not to like? With Emilio Estevez
Published on 7 Feb 2008 by Alister King
Cult great
Probably the best opening line in any movie, in history ... ever:
"Honey? Honeybun? ... This machine just called me an asshole!"
AC/DC songs. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2005 by "goeffyourself"
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