Race with the Devil (1975)

Very good horror/action film, 7 July 2005

Two couples in a new RV set out on a trip from San Antonio to Aspen. The first night, they park in a secluded area next to a small river. It seems like an ideal spot. But later that night, something horrific happens just across the river. The two men watch in horror as a young woman is killed as a sacrifice during some sort of Satanic ceremony. The men and their RV are spotted and the chase is on. The Satanists will stop at nothing to keep the couples from escaping.

Race with the Devil is an excellent mix of horror and action. While the scenes of overt horror are scarce, there is an undeniable creepiness to the film. Even when you're not sure that the heroes are in danger, you can't escape the feeling of that something is wrong. The evil is almost palatable. The action, on the other hand, is plentiful. The chase scenes are very well done. It's quite a ride. You don't get much more exciting than a 35' RV careening down a highway, slamming into a couple of trucks while someone fires a shotgun off the roof. Very nice.

One thing that makes the movie a standout is the acting of the two male leads. Peter Fonda and Warren Oates are both wonderful. Fonda seems to relish the action scenes and handles many of his own stunts like a pro. Oates has become a real favorite of mine. The man was capable of expressing more with his facial expressions than most actors do with pages of dialogue. While the two female leads are underdeveloped, Loretta Swit and Lara Parker give it their all. The supporting cast is headed by R.G. Armstrong in a wonderful performance as the Sheriff with something to hide.

The only negative I see is that much of the movie plays like it was made-for-television. Several scenes end as if they are going to a commercial break. The music is part of the problem. Many scenes end with music cues usually reserved for television.

8/10