The Wraith (1986)

High Plains Drifter with a twist

The Wraith is a modern remake of the Clint Eastwood classic, "High Plains Drifter." In "The Wraith," Eastwood is replaced by Sheen, and the horse by a fantasically futuristic car; the Dodge/PPG Industries Pace car, AKA the Turbo Interceptor in the film.

Jamie Hankins is dating Keri Johnson. The leader of a notorious road racing gang has claimed Keri for himself, however, and decides to eliminate the competition. Jamie is brutally murdered and his body set ablaze in a fiery car crash. Now, Jamie was no good guy in life, and upon his arrival in Hell, he makes a pact with the devil to exchange the souls of every gang member responsible for his death, in exchange for his own soul's release.

Jamie returns to Earth as Jake; the driver of the hottest car ever built. One by one, he eggs members of the gang into races, where he emerges victorious and the loser ends up dead; his eyes missing. This is a sure sign they have been sent back to Hell. Each time a gang member is killed, a mysterious brace disappears. Once the last member is dead, the final brace is gone, and Jake/Jamie is free once more.

This is one of my favorite movies, and I was privileged to work with David Sherrill recently, who played Skank in this movie. A lot of these guys were nobodies when it came out, but have since gone on to much bigger and better things.

An awesome movie with a killer 80's soundtrack. April 18, 2008

Unintentionally Funny

I remember watching this in junior high on HBO. I bought it on bargain DVD several years ago. I still watch it from time to time as it is probably the silliest "horror" movie ever made. A young Charlie Sheen is very wooden in his triple role as The Wraith/Jake/Jamie Hanson. He rides into town on a motorcycle, yet no one recognizes him, not even his girlfriend (Sherilyn Fenn) or his brother. Did I mention that he's dead? Not long after his arrival, the crew of hotrodders who did him in start to die one by one at the hands of a helmeted black-clad weirdo who drives a super-fast car of death (with the Chrysler logo plainly visible in every head on shot). If the hero is implausible, the villains are even more so. From Packard Walsh, the leather jacketed, cliche spouting leader, to Rughead (Clint Howard), the gang's master builder, to Skank and the Gutterboy, the requisite stoner/drunk punks of the group. Don't let this turn you off. There are some great, if pointless, car chases and fiery crashes set to a cheesy 80s soundtrack. This movie must be seen to be believed. March 12, 2008

Charlie Sheen: He's fit to be a Superhero....

What can I say? This is a classic film! It's got an incredible car,that would put the cars from Fast and the Furious to shame, a great villain, a hottie Sherilyn Fenn (Boxing Helena/Fire Walk with Me), and a super hero (Charlie Sheen) that can't be killed because he is already dead! Sorry ladies, Mr. Sheen is apart of the vehicle, never to sport a "little black book" again... October 29, 2007

Timeless...in an odd way

This film raises questions at every turn: Where are all the parents? How old is Packard Walsh supposed to be? If it is a magic car, how come it has a Dodge logo on it? And where do the lovebirds drive off to in the end, outerspace or spring break? This is from the era where HBO just ran the same 8 bad teen films over and over again. You know, Alien from L.A., Lucas, Teen Witch, Solarbabies and so forth? It doesn't matter because it holds up over time. Upon viewing it for the 1st time this year, my husband proclaimed it the greatest movie ever made and watched it over and over. Being that it is only an hour and 20 minutes long, it sits just right with you.
September 11, 2007

Still A Good View

I once watched this 5 times in one day. I was young and stupid....not to mention really bored at the time. Luckily, it was a pretty good movie, so it was not such a chore to get through.

The plot is basic: new kid moves to town, and gets interested in a local girl, Keri. The local hot rod gang leader also has an interest in her and decides to protect those interests. Jake, the new guy, finds himself on the other side of death with a new machine and serious axe to grind. The revenge starts with challenges to races, and as the gang dwindles, so the panic increases.

By today's standards, the effects are on the cheesy side, though that does not entirely detract from the movie's charms. The acting is pretty much what you would expect from a fairly low budget movie, though it is certainly not the worst about. Sheen makes a good impression with his portrayal of the Wraith/Jake, with his "boyish charm".

It is a cult classic, and that is what "The Wraith" will probably always be. It appeals to a particular taste, but if you are into unusual films, this could be worth a look. I still enjoy it, a decade and more later. Still a great film to kick back and zone out with. July 29, 2007

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