Plot: What’s it about?
As a mysterious comet passes our planet, a strange turn of events has started and soon enough, the world will be thrown into total chaos. At a small trucker’s haven, Dixie Boy Truck Stop, a band of passing drivers and the workers there begin to see the signs, such as a truck driving with no one inside and an electric knife that attacks the waitress. Bill (Emilio Estevez) is on parole and just learned that his boss is looking to screw him over, but his paycheck is the least of his worries, as a convoy of unmanned trucks is headed for that truck stop. All sorts of machines have gone into maximum overdrive and as time passes, they add more and more victims to their body count. Back at Dixie Boy, Bill and his coworkers have been joined by several newcomers, including a newly married couple, a bible salesman, a tough female drifter, and a scared young boy. Those trapped inside the place have decided to take action of some kind, but what can they do and even they could defeat some of the machines, how in the world could they beat them all?
Based on Stephen King’s story Trucks, Maximum Overdrive has taken a real beating from critics and audiences, but I still think it is a cool flick. I admit the special effects are often weak and the acting is just as much so, but I like the premise and I think it all works out well enough in the end. Plus, the amazing soundtrack from AC/DC doesn’t hurt things either, of course. The small scale effects such as the trucks driving themselves, lawnmowers on the loose, and killer pop machines look good I think, although some of the more advanced sequences falter somewhat. You can tell this film had some budget issues at times, but I think things are handled well enough, though a few places could use a spit shine or the like. Emilio Estevez is the highlight of the cast, but trust me, the performances are adequate, though not impressive in the least. I do think King is able to provide some good atmosphere here, especially toward the start of the film and then again closer to the end, very cool stuff in my book. So while this film won’t win any awards, I am very pleased to own this disc and as such, I am giving this release a very solid recommendation.
Although he has been a worldwide sensation when it comes to books, Stephen King hasn’t much luck when it comes to the movie business. As you know, popular books are often turned into feature film, but in the case of King, it seems as though even his short stories end up on the screen. But as well received as the source material often was, King’s work has often left movie audiences displeased, to say the least. In the case of Maximum Overdrive, King matters into his own hands and signed on to serve as director, as well as writer. This would be the first and last time he would do so, as even his own handiwork was given a lukewarm reception. I think King manages just fine with this flick, but I can understand why some folks dislike the movie. If you want to see more films based on King’s work, I recommend Carrie, The Green Mile, The Shining, Misery, The Dead Zone, and Children of the Corn. The cast here includes Emilio Estevez (Repo Man, The Breakfast Club), Laura Harrington (The Devil’s Advocate, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai), Pat Hingle (Batman & Robin, Muppets From Space), Yeardly Smith (The Legend of Billie Jean, City Slickers), and Ellen McElduff (Working Girls, Little Man Tate).
Video: How does it look?
Maximum Overdrive is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is the first time I’ve seen this film in widescreen, so I was excited and in the end, I think this presentation will please fans. The print used seems to be in terrific condition, with few marks, not much debris, and a very small amount of grain present. The colors look more than solid also, from the eerie greens to the blood reds and as far as flesh tones, they seem natural also. No errors to discuss on the contrast front, as black levels are well mixed and detail is high from start to finish. This film might have a limited audience, but Anchor Bay has ensured that those fans will be in heaven here, terrific work indeed.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is also impressive, with much more activity than I had expected. The surrounds are used often, from truck driven audio to the explosions to of course, the hard rockin’ AC/DC soundtrack. I think the music is awesome and in this mix, it really shines and add attitude to the picture, which is how it should be. But the sound effects also come across very well, which allows for a nice depth in those sequences and as such, enhances the experience more than a little. I found no problems with the dialogue either, as vocals seem rich and clean, with no volume errors to speak of. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround track and English captions, but no subtitles are available.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a talent file on Stephen King, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
