The Wraith (1986)

The movie begins with a young man named "George" (Steven Eckholdt) down a lonely highway somewhere in Arizona with his girlfriend. Suddenly, a group of cars appear and force him to stop. It's then that a man named "Packard Walsh" (Nick Cassavetes) comes up to him and threatens George with physical violence to his girlfriend unless he agrees to race his car against that of Packard's--with the loser having to forfeit their car. Packard wins and both George and his girlfriend are subsequently left out in the middle of nowhere to fend for themselves. The scene then shifts to another young man named "Jake Kesey" (Charlie Sheen) riding a motorcycle in the town of Brooks, Arizona and asking a pretty young woman named "Keri Johnson" (Sherilyn Fenn) for directions. She offers to show him but as soon as she gets on the motorcycle Packard drives up and tells her to get in his car. She obediently gets in even though is is apparent she wants nothing to do with him. But Packard's days of bullying everybody in town is about to be challenged by a mysterious man driving a sleek black Turbo Interceptor who challenges certain members of Packard's gang to race against him one-on-one. What they don't know is that it isn't their cars that this mysterious figure is after—but rather their lives. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that I remember watching this movie in the theater when it first came out and I rather liked it as it had a decent horror plot enhanced by some pretty good action scenes. Admittedly, some parts were kind of hokey but all things considered I found the overall film to enjoyable enough and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Jamie, killed by neighborhood thugs, returns as a mystical figure named Jake the Wraith (Charlie Sheen) to gain revenge.A movie from the 1980s with fast cars and Charlie Sheen? Sounds like a winner, maybe a mix between "Ferris Bueller" and The Chase". Add in Sherilyn Fenn in a pre-"Twin peaks" role... that has to be good, right? She stole the show there and the under-appreciated "Boxing Helena". Oh, and did I mention Clint Howard? But somehow it all seems so bland. Like a made-for-TV movie, and not a very good one, at that. I feel like the exact same story, with a little spit and polish could have been a minor masterpiece. But no. Somehow this gets labeled a "horror" film, but that is quite the stretch. Though it is not much of anything else either.

Charlie Sheen plays Jake, a reincarnated drag racing extraterrestrial superhero who has returned from the dead...and to earth...in order to free the love of his life from the abusive grips of the psychopath- Packard (Nick Cassavetes)- who she has become enslaved to, after killing Jake's previous incarnation, whom she was in love with. That or a wraith. One of the two, for sure.Packard rules by fear over his gang, who are slowly being killed off in drag racing accidents. The last few alive include probably the coolest looking nerd in movie history, a punk who snorts WD-40 and an easily manipulated backwoods moron. Those in the gang who don't make it, have fallen victim to the extraterrestrial reincarnations future, space (or wraith) car....which can explode before reanimating itself.Investigating the recent spate of deaths is a lieutenant played by Randy Quaid. He is searching for "the other driver" who he considers responsible for the murders, while also trying to get Packard off the streets.A product of it's time, the majority of the film takes place at a roller-burger joint and is mainly a vehicle for boob-shots, of which there are, admittingly, some nice ones.That being said... it's unreasonably happy ending wraps up what is probably the most patently absurd "ghost" film (a label i use lightly) I've ever seen (worse than 13 Ghosts). Either that, or it is meant to be some sort of profound commentary, which is suggesting that certain UFO-related phenomenon are actually ghosts returning to finish their vendettas. You can probably tell where I stand.But you should watch for yourself and be the judge. Or don't and just use your life to watch something that is inherently better.3 out of 10.

Charlie Sheen, Nick Cassavetes, Sherilyn Fenn, Clint Howard and Randy Quaid star in this 1986 sci-fi film. This begins one night with an otherworldly figure, a wraith arriving on Earth in Arizona. Meanwhile, a vicious gang led by Packard Walsh (Cassavetes) drag race against a couple and win taking their car from them. Soon, the wraith starts drag racing against Packard's gang members one at a time killing them with his car. Fenn (Just One of the Guys) plays Packard's girl, Keri Johnson who meets Jake (Sheen), a new guy in town and they start falling for each other. Quaid (Vacation) plays police lieutenant, Loomis who investigates why the mysterious driver is targeting Packard and his gang. Keri eventually learns that Packard killed her boyfriend, Jamie Hankins some time prior and is persuaded by Jake to break free from him or she'll become his prisoner. Keri soon discovers the true identity of the wraith after his climatic showdown with Packard. Howard (Evilspeak) plays nerdy mechanic, Rughead who works for Packard. This is an underrated 80's flick that shares the same revenge formula as "High Plains Drifter," "The Crow" and "Mad Max." It features a good cast, neat effects, thrilling race sequences & great score. I recommend this.