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Maximum Overdrive

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Film Review: Maximum Overdrive (1986)@drax1584d

(source: tmdb.org)

Reputation of Stephen King as one of the most popular and successful writers of our time is in many ways built and maintained on the screen adaptations of his work, which at times seem too big in number to count. With so many of his texts being brought to the screen, it was somewhat inevitable that King would one day dabble in such job himself. His directorial debut, 1986 science fiction horror film Maximum Overdrive, showed that his undisputed literary talent didn’t match his film making skills.

The film is based on his short story Trucks (adapted in 1997 as eponymous television film). The plot begins in Wilmington, North Carolina on (then future) June 13th 1987 when Earth goes through the tail of rogue Rhea M comet. One of the side effects is strange and gradually hostile behaviour of various electric or mechanical machines and appliances that start to kill humans. The protagonist, played by Emilio Estevez, is Bill Robinson, young paroled convict who works in Dixie Boy truck stop, run by tyrannical and eccentric boss Bubba Hendershot (played by Pat Hingle). Soon that location becomes the shelter for the people who somehow managed to survive the initial onslaught of murderous machines. However, their survival becomes challenging after surrounded by group of huge menacing rig trucks. Bill and the others would have to use all of their skills and ingenuity to escape and try to reach safety.

Maximum Overdrive had underwhelming results at the box office and was savaged by critics, creating reputation of one of the worst 1980s films. King himself agreed with critics and abandoned his directorial ambitions. He later explained that he had been “coked out of his mind” during the production. Although a bad film, Maximum Overdrive is not as bad as its reputation might indicate. Basic premise, based on the idea that humanity become overdependent on the machines and technology, is presented in an interesting way at the beginning of the film, when King shows some interesting and macabre ways in which lifting bridges, electric knives, arcade games, vending machines and various vehicles can cause injuries and deaths. There is, however, little horror in these scenes because King chose to extensively use AC/DC songs from their Who Made Who album as soundtrack which actually makes this film a dark comedy. However, when emphasis is switched to the characters, it turns out that they are cliched and uninteresting and, for the most part, forgettable. Leading man Emilio Estevez, however, does solid job as the main hero, but he is burdened with obligatory romantic subplot, ruined by the lack of chemistry with his partner Laura Harrington. Veteran character actor Pat Hingle is much more effective in the role of tyrannical redneck and, just like Ellen McElduf in the role of a waitress, overacts for the comical effect. That is something that almost achieves Yeardley Smith (famous for providing voice for Lisa in Simpsons) in the role of young bride, but her character soon gets annoying. Because of that Maximum Overdrive almost reaches “it’s so bad that it is good” territory, but actually never gets there. Uninspired and predictably happy ending is further destroyed with unnecessary epilogue in the end credits. Although disappointing, this film is watchable although still something many fans of Stephen King would like to forget.

RATING: 4/10 (++)

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›So bad, it's good: Maximum Overdrive@netflixr1612d
I'll be getting to the winners of the 90's sci-fi contest soon so don't anyone worry about that. For the time being I want to talk about a film that deservedly was panned by critics across the board, has terrible scores on all the major review sites, and honestly, is a really terribly made film. However, it's so absurd and poorly made that this actually makes it a joy to watch for the kind of person that enjoys finding humor in things that weren't meant to be funny.

There are a lot of films out there like this, but Maximum Overdrive is truly ridiculous and this is precisely why I go back and watch it over and over again.

src

In 1986, and some would argue to this day, Stephen King could release a film about basically anything and people would go see it in theaters. He already had a string of massively successful films at this point including Carrie (his first), The Shining (rated by many people as one of the best films ever made), and Cat's Eye (panned by critics but a personal favorite of my own. When Maximum Overdrive came out, even though the previews seemed a bit silly, everyone was excited to go see it.
[src](https://www.joblo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/emilio-estevez-maximum-overdrive-regrets-1280x720.jpg)
Combine all the above factors with the fact that Emilio Estevez was in what can be considered the high-point of his career and the public didn't have any reason to suspect that this movie was going to absolutely suck.

Many people attribute the suckiness of this movie to the fact that Stephen King himself wrote the screenplay and directed the film despite having little to no experience in the trade. What can you say? Some people just think because they are good at one thing that they are going to be good at everything. It would be the only full-length film that King would ever direct.

If you are unfamiliar with this movie it kind of takes Terminator to another level. Not only do some machines become cognitively aware of their existence and rise up to eliminate their slave master humans, but ALL machines do so. This can be anything from a computer to a car or even a hair dryer. Their only desire in their new-found sentience is to kill all humans.

src _{lawn mowers have had enough of their slavery}

There are also a lot of elements of the film that fail to establish continuity such as the fact that a couple who are in a machine, their own car, are attempting to outrun other vehicles that are trying to kill them. There isn't any explanation as to why their own car doesn't just kill them.

src

While holed up in a gas station, some of the machines decide to team up and infiltrate the compound. A bulldozer and a military vehicle with a mounted machine gun come by and through morse code - because obviously the military vehicle knows Morse code - demand that the humans come out and fill up their diesel fuel tanks if they wish to escape with their lives.

I'm not going to spoil any more than I already have but the humans are plotting how they can double-cross the machines. Someone in the group who just happens to know Morse code also informs the group about a nearby island where no motorized vehicles are allowed because: reasons. It's completely stupid but the plot needed to move forward I guess.

The sequence of events that happens was the 1986 warning of sorts to tell the world that we have become too dependent upon technology. I can only imagine what they would say about the lives of today where basically nobody knows how to do anything without the help of a smart phone.

Even that trailer is more of an episode of Stephen King talking about how great Stephen King is and just that is cringe enough to get me to watch this movie again. The humorous thing about this is that King struggles with his lines just in this 2- minute video and they had an unlimited amount of takes to get it right. Not only does he suck as a screenwriter and director, but dude can't act worth a damn either.

Should I watch it?
If you appreciate bad cinema that is so bad it is good then I say yes. There is no reason at all to watch this film based on any other reason than to poke fun of just how blisteringly awful it is. The horror isn't scary, the lines are corny, the lack of continuity just goes on and on, and the ending is a non-ending of ultimate convenience that the actions of the characters in the film have zero impact on whatsoever.

It is truly a terrible film. Some would say one of the worst bigger-budget films of all time. It lost money at cinemas but has since become a cult classic for all the wrong reasons. I've seen this movie dozens of times and I go back every now and then just to marvel at the awfulness of it all. I think it was only Stephen King's own ego and probably a fair bit of his own money that resulted in this thing ever being in theaters in the first place.

_{For the right person}

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›Maximum Overdrive (film): Only writing about this because of King@gooddream2818d
Ok, there was a time where people thought that the only thing you had to do was talk about how you were going to make a Stephen King movie and well, everyone would go and see it. This movie was NEARLY proof that this would always work but well, didn't quite make it. They lost over a million dollars because wow, this movie is quite possibly the worst movie ever.

sexy AF

I don't know about you but when i look at this poster i just think "where do I throw my money?" and well, that was likely the approach they had in 1986 whilst making this piece of crap that very well might be the worst movie ever made.

It is difficut for me to say this with a straight face... but the story behind this atrocity is that a comet passes near the earth and all of a sudden all the machines get some sort of artificial intelligence and also a desire to kill the humans. (yeah, it is that absurd)... we have situations where toasters and blenders want nothing other than to kill their operators.

This was pinnacled (which isn't even a word) by the guy who has a truck just happening to have one that well, looks menacing and now the truck doesn't want anything to do with him anymore but instead wants to kill people.... including and especially the people that used to handle said truck

I would love to say that this is me just getting in line with everyone else but honestly, this movie is really really really really (imagine i typed that word 100 times) bad. Despite having Emilio Estevez in the movie (who was trying really hard to be a major star back then) it still was not good at all.

I suppose there are some nostalgic reasons to watch the inevitable showdown in the gas station at the beginning/end/entire film that will inevitably be featured in the trailer.

This movie is rightfully considered one of the worst ever and the only reason why it gets any points at all is because I enjoy giving points to movies that are universally hated.

2 / 10

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Should I watch it?

2 / 10