10 Vanishing Point
Former race car driver has a job to deliver a Dodge Challenger from Denver to San Francisco. Along the way he falls foul of the law and becomes some kind of counter cultural hero with the help of a radio DJ. Some great car chase scenes at least as good as those in Bulitt makes this fun despite the overall nihilism. Its hard to judge a film like Vanishing Point, reading though reviews on imdb and elsewhere, accounts vary with some seeing it as an existential masterpiece while others see it as more the stuff of routine late night television or drive-in fodder. After sitting through it a couple of times, its well worth it just for the Dodge. I guess as a road movie I would give it six and a half golden raccoons out of ten.
The spookiest part.
Weird existential stuff. Death between the blades of bulldozers.
9 Two Lane Blacktop
Brian Wilson of Beach Boys fame is one of the nameless race car enthusiasts characters in this cross country race road movie. Hot rod buffs will no doubt like some of the cars to be seen here not least of which is a Pontiac GTO and a 55 Chevy. Like Vanishing Point this is filled with mysterious strangers and drifters.
The spookiest part.
Tricked out gun metal gray 55 Chevy.
8 Hot Rods to Hell
Family moving to a desert inn are harassed by young hot rodders in this JD(juvenile delinquent flick). Pretty campy throughout but has the more serious thing of youth stuck in a parochial town - something of a hot rod theme. Some terrific cars to seen here including a 1958 Corvette convertible and a Model T Ford Roadster.
The spookiest part.
Night time dessert chase scenes.
7 Duel
Businessman driving across country is terrorized by anonymous trucker in this Spielberg debut road thriller.
The spookiest part.
Peterbilt tanker truck with multiple license plates has an ominous presence.
6 Mad Max
Mel Gibson stars as a cop battling a ruthless biker gang in some futuristic dystopia.
The spookiest part.
Mean bikers. Black Ford police interceptor vehicle.
5 Road Games
Set in Australia Stacey Keach plays a cross country trucker engaged in a cat and mouse game with a van driving serial killer.
The spookiest part.
A van with eyes in the back window.
4 Road Kill aka Joy Ride
College kids traveling across country incur the wrath of a trucker after prancking him via CB radio. While there are plot holes here large enough to sink the largest of rigs it still delivers enough suspense and intrigue to make it an entertaining watch.
The spookiest part.
CB radio as an instrument of fear. Night time ambush scene.
3 Easy Rider
Hippie drug running bikers travel across country to a sixties rock soundtrack and are gunned down by back country hicks.
The spookiest part.
Its a bit like Deliverance on wheels.
2 The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow
All together too goofy for any type of serious film review this film at sixty five minutes is as silly as it is short, but still good for an hour of laughs and high jinx. The plot such as it is, involves a group of hot rod enthusiasts who need a new clubhouse which turns out to be a haunted house.
The spookiest part.
The talking parrot and the talking hot rod at the end.
1 Wheels of Terror
Small town is terrorized by anonymous child killer in a strange black car and is fought off by a school bus driver.
The spookiest part.
Evil looking modified Dodge Charger.
