A demonic 1971 Lincoln Continental terrorized a small town in this 1977 cult horror
In short: In the 1977 supernatural thriller The Car, a mysterious, driverless black vehicle embarks on a murderous rampage through a desert town. Produced by Universal Pictures, the film features a heavily customized Lincoln Continental designed by George Barris, blending mechanical menace with occult undertones in a cult classic of automotive horror.
The Car follows a black, unmanned vehicle that terrorizes a small community, killing residents and police officers alike. The film’s antagonist is a 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III, modified by Hollywood customizer George Barris. To achieve its sinister aesthetic, Barris lowered the roof by four inches and extended the side fenders. Four vehicles were constructed for production; three served as stunt mules and were destroyed, while the fourth, used for close-ups, remains in a private collection.
The production leaned into dark themes, enlisting Church of Satan leader Anton LaVey as an uncredited technical advisor. The film opens with a quote adapted from The Satanic Bible, and the score utilizes a reworked version of the Dies Irae, chosen for its ominous tone. The car’s unique horn sound was designed to mimic the letter X in Morse code, symbolizing the elimination of its victims. Despite these stylized efforts, the film received mixed to poor critical reception upon release.
Critics like Gene Siskel and Arthur D. Murphy dismissed the film as a nonsensical, poorly acted attempt to replicate the success of earlier scare vehicles like Duel and Jaws. However, the film has since gained a reputation as an enjoyably flawed experience, earning a spot in John Wilson’s list of the 100 most entertaining bad movies. Its influence persists in pop culture, with homages appearing in shows like Futurama, American Dad!, and Supernatural, cementing its status as a unique, if divisive, entry in the genre of possessed-machine horror.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Car (1977 film)
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