I Watch FIlms: Christine

 

Christine (1983)

In 1957 a Plymouth Fury has some unusual incidents on the production line, first a man has his hand injured, then when another man sits in there are smokes, he dies. In 1978 Arnie, a nerd at high school, is bullied in the shop (wood and metalwork room);  one of the bullies named Buddy pulls a knife. Arnie’s friend Dennis intervenes and a teacher sees the knife, getting Buddy and his pals in big trouble. Dennis drives Arnie home; on the way they see an old dilapidated Plymouth Fury, called Christine. Arnie buys it from the weird old man.

After arguing with his parents, Arnie takes it to junkyard/workshop to repair Christine. He starts working for the junkyard owner. He becomes cooler, more confident. He’s also obsessed with the car, neglecting his pal Dennis. Dennis breaks in to the workshop to take a look; Christine plays music and scares him off. He goes back to the man who sold it; it belonged to his brother who also was obsessed with it. Then the man’s niece died in it and both the brother and sister-in-law committed suicide in it.

Arnie gets a girlfriend Leigh; while snogging her on the bonnet of Christine Dennis is distracted and has a serious injury putting him off the football team. Later Leigh chokes at the drive in and Christine locks her doors to stop Arnie helping her. Arnie has to tell Christine that nothing has changed between them. Then Christine is vandalised by Buddy and his pals. Christine repairs herself, goes on a rampage to attack the gang.

Arnie’s alibi is rock solid (because Christine was driving alone) but the police are on the case. Meanwhile Dennis and Leigh have compared notes and decide Christine is cursed. They plan to destroy the car, leading to a final showdown.

Anyway, haunted car! Or cursed car! Very violent high school bullying; I believe in the viciousness of it, but Buddy pulling a knife is something of an escalation. The car effects are good when Christine repairs herself. Itself. Hmm.

Watch This: A cool car that kills!
Don’t Watch This: Inexplicably bloodthirsty living car