Christine
Dir: John Carpenter
1983
***
Stephen King's novel Christine is brought to life by the king of horror, it's not an exact adaptation but I've always thought the changes were justified. The story is subjective. Does Christine represent the folly of consumerism and ownership, is it making comment on the many tragic deaths of young people in car accidents that reached a peak in middle-America between the 50s-70s, is it a warning to the pre-pubescent to control new urges or is it a warning against over confidence and arrogance, substance being what is most important? Does the Car represent Rock and Roll, sex or maybe drugs, all the things kids should stay clear of in wholesome American town? Or is it just simply a film about a car that kills people, like Jaws but on land and by something that kids generally like. It's interesting to see a horror whereby people are killed by something that is cool, if the film had come first I would wonder if it was purely because a Car is cheaper than making a fake shark but obsession is clearly the underline theme. As a film it works, Carpenter is the king of tension, the apprehension of impending doom is often unnerving, Christine could have been a toaster and Carpenter would have made it work. However, the acting is brilliant, it is very quotable and nostalgia tells me I like it more than it possibly deserves.