"Honey? Come on over here, sugar buns. This machine just called me an asshole!"
As we continue with Stephen King week here, faithful readers, I want to take a moment to tell you about a very special film. One about machines that come to life and wreck havoc upon mankind, directed by a man at the height of his cocaine addiction. That man was none other than author Stephen King. The result is a movie that is the epitome of so bad it's good. I give you Maximum Overdrive.
The film opens with a title card stating that the planet Earth was passing through the tail of a large comet, strongly suggesting that is the reason the vast majority of machines in the world become sentient and homicidal, especially 18 Wheeler semi-trucks. Of course, this makes no sense, but whatever. The whole plot is just excuse to smash and blow shit up real good for ninety minutes, and in that context, this movie is perfect.
The film centers largely on the Dixie Boy Truck Stop and the assortment of misfits that populate it. It includes loner ex-con Bill (played by Emilio Estevez), his bully of a boss Bubba (played by Pat Hingle, just shy of literally chewing the scenery), a newly wed couple Curtis (played by John Short) and Connie (played by Yeardly Smith, aka the voice of Lisa Simpson), and a drifter Brett (played by Laura Herrington) among others, many of whom are only there to stand in place for an impossibly long enough time to get creamed by speeding trucks or otherwise be cannon fodder.
Bill rises to the role of hero fairly early on, fighting with his slimy boss and trying to reason with the crowd in an attempt to keep the situation under control. Before long there is also a bit of a romance developing between him and Brett that adds a little sweetness to the film. He and Brett, a streetwise and tough gal make a good team. It's the two of them that discover Bubba has been doing some arms dealing on the side and the basement is stockpiled with grenades, rocket lauchers, automatic weapons and other heavy artillery to use against the sentient trucks (how convenient). What follows is largely a standoff between the people of the truck stop and the machines as our characters try to find a way out of the situation.
The film plays out as more of a sci-fi action film than a straight up horror film, although there are plenty of deliriously gruesome moments, including a soda machine attack, projecting cans of soda like cannon balls and the fastest steam roller I've ever seen going on a rampage through a Little League game. There is also the lead truck, known as the Happy Toyz truck, with the giant visage of Marvel's The Green Goblin plastered on the front of it that seems more than a little creepy (and is pictured above).
Maximum Overdrive has earned an unfair reputation as being horrible. Yes, the plot is ridiculous, I don't argue that. But in a way it's a throw back to the sci-fi B-Movies of the 50's. The movie knows how absurd it all is an has it's tongue firmly planted in it's cheek. I mean, the opening scene has an ATM calling Stephen King himself an asshole and the soundtrack is done by AC/DC for crying out loud. It's clear we're just supposed to go with it and enjoy it on it's own silly terms, which is what I've always done. For those who are curious to view it, it is available for viewing in it's entirety on YouTube.
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