Sci-Fi The Wraith (1986)

Kevin

Code Monkey
Staff member
Title: The Wraith

Tagline: He's not from around here...

Genre: Action, Science Fiction

Director: Mike Marvin

Cast: Charlie Sheen, Nick Cassavetes, Sherilyn Fenn, Randy Quaid, Matthew Barry, Clint Howard, David Sherrill, Jamie Bozian, Griffin O'Neal, Chris Nash, Vickie Benson, Peder Melhuse, Jeffrey Sudzin, Michael Hungerford, Steven Eckholdt, Elizabeth Cox, Christopher Bradley, Jeffery Feaster, Brooke Burke Charvet, Richard Alexander

Release: 1986-11-21

Runtime: 93

Plot: Packard Walsh and his motorized gang control and terrorize an Arizona desert town where they force drivers to drag-race so they can 'win' their vehicles. After Walsh beats the decent teenager Jamie Hankins to death after finding him with his girlfriend, a mysterious power creates Jake Kesey, an extremely cool motor-biker who has a car which is invincible. Jake befriends Jamie's girlfriend Keri Johnson, takes Jamie's sweet brother Bill under his wing and manages what Sheriff Loomis couldn't; eliminate Packard's criminal gang the hard way...
The Wraith (1986)

 
I recently had a chance to re-watch The Wraith on cable and it was the first time I ever got to watch it in widescreen hi-def resolution. I have seen it plenty of times but it was only on an old CRT 4:3 TV with low resolution and edited for TV.

These days a movie like The Wraith would be deemed direct-to-cable quality and never see a theater release. That is a shame because it is one of the movies that nicely serves as a pop-culture time capsule of the period.

Chrysler sponsored the vehicles so seeing a Dodge Daytona Turbo as canyon racer is pretty funny. I wonder if it was the Shelby version. :D With 80's songs by Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Robert Palmer and others, along with some of the bad guys appearing with face paint, then add in a young Charlie Sheen and a pre-breakdown Randy Quaid, it all combines for a straight out of the '80's experience.

If you enjoy B-movies then add this one to your viewing queue.
 
I remember as a young teen a friend telling me about this film, so off to the local video rental store I went to hire it. I was completely blown away by the film, I found it to be haunting and very unique. Must try to obtain it on DVD, a forgotten underated classic IMO.
 

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