Máquina da Vingança

The thing about the original 1977 movie, what made it both scary and compelling, was that you never got to know why the car was killing people, it just did it. And they weren't bad people either, they were just ordinary people doing ordinary things, and you were introduced to them as such before the car killed them.

By setting up this film as a conventional revenge-from-the-grave story with stereotypical goth-clown villains and what we're allowed to assume is an AI-controlled car (which doesn't even look intimidating), all of that is lost. When the possibility of a supernatural explanation is introduced mid-way through, it's too late - at that point, the audience rightly sees that car as little more than a means of advancing the ho-hum murder-revenge plot-line. It's not scary enough in itself to take over the movie, like the original car did.

People will say, "it's a low-budget film, so don't have such high expectations," but the original film had a lower budget than this one, even in 1977 dollars, and it's considered a modern horror classic. There were good, creative ideas behind it which this one just doesn't have.

'The Car: Road to Revenge' is a very different kind of revenge movie, as well as a ghost story. Some might compare it to 'Christine', but it is indeed very different. It is, in fact, a spinoff sequel to 1977's 'The Car'.

The film is set in the not too distant future. James is a wealthy, egotistical District Attorney who reinstated the death penalty. While the police methods might seem unorthodox, one has to keep in mind this is set in the future, and who is to know what laws may be implemented in the future to combat crime? Just keep an open mind and it might be acceptable.

I found Grant Bowler likable as the film's hero, detective Rainer. Kathleen Munroe starred as Daria - a very strong character, but I would have liked to know a bit more about her and her background. The love interest between them was cliched, but I somehow wanted - and expected - it from the characters. Unfortunately there is no real payoff apart from being just another cliche.

There are some interesting characters here - from a guy dressed like a character from centuries past, to cyborgs, and futuristic looking characters, to ordinary characters. The gang of bad guys are supposedly aliens, but they are underdeveloped characters and their intentions are not very clear. Were they mortals, it would have made no difference whatsoever. Speaking of intentions, I also didn't really understand James' intentions. He clearly wanted to take revenge on the gang, but he also killed some innocent bystanders in the process, and was obviously insanely jealous of Daria. Was it all about revenge of just a killing spree?

The film features some good visuals, and surprised me with excellent photography, and good action sequences. It got better and better as the film progressed. (This would have been awesome with a big budget.) Be warned, some scenes are brutal and gory. A lot of scenes would have benefited significantly had they been slightly longer. A number of scenes felt like they ended too abruptly.

In general, I was pleasantly surprised by 'The Car: Road to Revenge'. The sound was good, the score was good, the photography was good, and there were lots of action. Don't take it too seriously, don't over-analyze it, and you will have a good time with it. I did.

Would I watch it again? Yes.

I imagine anyways, someone did wayyyy too much blow and then wrote this screenplay...and then maybe blackmailed someone in order to actually get it made. I dunno, something along those lines CAUSE IT SURE AS HELL HAS NOTHING TO SO WITH IT BEING A GOOD MOVIE.

Fans of the original cult classic 1970's 'The Car' , do not bother with this movie.

I am giving it a 4 rating for effort, it was not that bad, the post apocalyptic setting could have been better but i do understand the low budget.

I always have an issue with people walking down pretty street when all is suppose to be squashed.

I guess they say its a sequel to the 1977 movie The car, but a part from the car driving itself, there is more in common with John Carpenter Christine then that car.

There is some good gore, death scenes and more.

Its an ok way to pass an hour and a half if you have nothing to do.