Race with the Devil (1975)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Jack Starrett

Writers:

Wes Bishop (writer)
Lee Frost (writer)

Release Date:

June 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

If you're going to race with the devil, you've got to be as fast as Hell!

Plot:

Two couples vacationing together in an R.V. from Texas to Colorado are terrorized after they witness a murder during a Satanic ritual.

Plot Keywords:

Vacation | Cult Film | Survival Horror | Gothic | Cult Horror

Cast

Peter Fonda	...	Roger Marsh
Warren Oates	...	Frank Stewart
Loretta Swit	...	Alice Stewart
Lara Parker	...	Kelly Marsh
R.G. Armstrong	...	Sheriff Taylor
Clay Tanner	...	Delbert
Carol Blodgett	...	Ethel Henderson
Phil Hoover	...	Mechanic
Ricci Ware	...	Ricci Ware
Paul A. Partain	...	Cal Mathers
James N. Harrell	...	Gun Shop Owner
Karen Miller	...	Kay
Arkey Blue	...	Arkey Blue
Jack Starrett	...	Gas Station Attendant
Wes Bishop	...	Deputy Dave

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Spain:18 | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (1976) | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (cut) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Bandera, Texas, USA

Company:

Saber Productions

Trivia:

Director Jack Starrett claims he hired real life Satanists as cult-member extras.

Goofs:

Continuity: Just over an hour in Frank says to Roger that the oil cooler is "mashed up against the radiator, there". But there is no damage to the grill.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder (2006) (V)

They Witnessed A Satanic Act- It May Cost Them Their Lives!

As low budget horror movies go, "Race With The Devil" has aged well. The plot is simple--two couples en route to Aspen for a long overdue skiing vacation, end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, and witness a human sacrifice. The rest of the film deals with their attempts to escape their pursuers, who happen to be modern day witches! Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit and Lara Parker are the couples in question, and R.G. Armstrong is the local sheriff they enlist to help them. All the performances are fine, especially the vastly underrated Oates, who is only now receiving the acclaim long due him, (he has since passed away) and his acting is as compelling as ever. The just-released DVD includes a commentary from producer Paul Maslansky and Lara Parker, a retrospective documentary with Peter Fonda, trailer, still and poster galleries and radio spots. Enhanced for widescreen TVs the film looks great, and is a great one to watch late at night (if not alone) when you feel the need for a few genuine scares.