Forget “Jaws” and “Race with the Devil”!

All of the entertainment talk this summer has been about Jaws, director Steven Spielberg’s shark attack thriller, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Jaws initiated the concept of the summer blockbuster and is justifiably being saluted as a cinematic classic. But there’s another film which also reached its golden anniversary this year, and it’s also worthy of mention as a quintessential drive-in movie. That movie is Race With The Devil, an entertaining hybrid of the car chase, action, and horror genres, starring Peter Fonda and Warren Oates. Directed by Jack Starrett and written by Wes Bishop and Lee Frost, the film was a hit for 20th Century Fox when it was released in the summer of 1975.

Fonda (Easy Rider) and Oates (Stripes) portray Roger Marsh and Frank Stewart, two friends who own a motorcycle shop in Texas. They decide to take a road trip in Frank’s state-of-the-art RV, along with their wives, Kelly and Alice, played by Lara Parker (of Dark Shadows fame) and Loretta Swit, best known for her role as “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the MASH television series. The men plan to race their dirt bikes, make a few stops along the way, and finish the trip in Aspen, Colorado, where the couples can hit the ski slopes. Needless to say, since this film is called Race With The Devil, things don’t go as planned, and their dream vacation turns into an endless nightmare.

While the RV is parked for the night, the two men witness a girl being sacrificed as part of a Satanic ritual. Roger and Frank try to convince people (including a local sheriff) of what they saw, but no one believes them. Or do they? Everyone the couples run into on their journey acts a little bit odd, and no one’s very helpful. The Satanists relentlessly pursue our heroes, and there are car chases, shoot-outs, and several close calls. Strange things happen, including a cryptic rune being pinned to the RV’s door, rattlesnakes are released into the vehicle’s cabin, and Kelly’s dog is killed. Just when Frank, Roger, Kelly and Alice think they’ve escaped, there’s one final twist to the tale, providing the film with a downbeat ending that’s reminiscent of several 1970s chillers.

Race With The Devil is an enjoyable ride. It’s a prime example of the kind of “B” movie they just don’t make anymore. Fonda and Oates, who starred in three films together, have great chemistry, and Parker and Swit are good as their beleaguered spouses. Veteran character actor R.G. Armstrong is excellent as the sheriff, who might not be as friendly as he appears to be at first glance. The film’s mixture of car chases, intense action sequences, and spine-tingling horror elements is well-handled by Jack Starrett, who replaced the film’s original director, Lee Frost. Starrett has a cameo in the movie as a gas station attendant. The score by veteran film composer Leonard Rosenman enhances the movie’s eerie atmosphere.

The movie was a big favorite at drive-in theaters for some time after its original release, and subsequently became a staple on late-night television. The unique blend of genres (including a touch of the conspiracy thrillers so common in 1970s cinema) allows it to stand apart from other horror films released during that time. Race With The Devil is perfect entertainment for an old-school movie night. You can gather up the popcorn and snacks, get settled into your favorite chair, and watch a quartet of memorable film and television stars battle a Satanic cult. Remember, “When you race with the devil, you’d better be faster than hell!”

-John Visconti

Photo: Drive-in movie theater (Dominique Hicks via Unsplash)