After Carpenters trademark black on white credits there is the meaty sound of an engine, almost like a primeval roar. Perhaps as if we are not fully aware that this is about evil, George Thorogood's Bad To The Bone starts blasting out as we are treated to a view of a car assembly line in 1957. Rolling down the line is a sleek, bright red 1957 Plymouth Fury, this is Christine. The opening scenes establish the foreboding presence that is Christine, sending one guy to the hospital and one to the morgue in a matter of minutes.
Using a very sleek mix between Buddy Holly's Fade Away and a 70's cover version we are informed it is now 20 years later. Dennis is picking up his mate Arnie, the high school geek. It is the first day at school, after a normal day for Arnie (getting picked on) he chances upon Christine on the way home, it is love at first sight.
Christine is now a complete wreck but Arnie sets about restoring her. As he works on the car Arnie also begins to change; he changes from a friendly nerd to a sullen cool dude, even managing to get a date with the prettiest girl in the school. But the changes are not all for the good. Arnie's enemies are meeting with dubious fates.
'Bad To The Bone'
Christine is based on the book by America's premier horror author Stephen King. It is a tale about teenagers, rock'n'roll and the ultimate American obsesstion, cars. Ditching some of the more overt supernatural scenes in the source text Carpenter sets up Christine as an embodiment of evil, almost sentient.
At opportune moments Christine's radio starts blaring out 60's rock classics, as if trying to say something. The soundtrack for the film (as with the book) is a central part of the story. Major developments in Christine's feelings are signified with songs. This is a classic rock'n'roll film.
The special effects are superb, especially the car regeneration scenes. Robert Prosky is excellent as the disgusting slob Darnell, owner of the local scrap yard. Arnie's vulnerability is emphasised by his overpowering mother, seeming to hint that he was driven to the extremes. Ripe for picking by Christine.
Stephen King has said that he was not very excited by the film, dissapointed because of the potential of Carpenter to deliver real scares. His favourite scenes were the assualts by Christine on Arnie's enemies. Very suspenseful.
Christine is an excellent film that superbly portrays an evil car. Great soundtrack as well.