Watch Trucks For Free

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Stephen King's sole directorial effort MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE (1986) apparently wasn't silly enough (or didn't bomb hard enough) to kill the will of producers to remake his short story "Trucks" just over a decade later. In this incarnation, folks are held captive by the title beasts in a rustic truck stop run by Ray (Timothy Busfield). This was made-for- TV with a low budget and is decidedly less goofy so one has to wonder, "Why bother?" I mean, outside of the obvious, "We'll put Kings name on it and make a ton of money." The cast of mostly Canadians is fine and the illogical scenes are abound (if machines are turning on you, why is your plan to ride a motorcycle to steal a helicopter from the Army base? ). The funniest bit is a truck using its mirrors to spy on someone and then trying to play it off when someone catches it. And since when do cars with unexplained sentient powers need to see from the driver's viewpoint? There are a few gory and unrelated kill scenes that look like they were added in post-production, seemingly confirmed by an "additional scenes" end credit. Interestingly, they were produced by William (SCARECROWS) Wesley.

Yes. Glorious line, innit? What I personally love about above expression of frustration and wonder is how clearly and thoroughly nonsensical it is. Who, pray tell, is the speaker directing the insult at? The car? I believe I read the short story of King's(or perhaps a similar one by another author), and I frankly see reason to attribute the aforementioned and other bits of silly and forced dialog(which is not all of it) in this to him. On the other hand, I haven't watched Maximum Overdrive, but I can imagine that it's better than this. So this plays upon our fear of, well, trucks, and other large, noisy machines that can crush us. We get a couple of Christine shots, and the concept is treated with a pretty considerable amount of respect, with the gradual build-up early on being somewhat reminiscent of such obviously superior pictures as The Birds. This backfires at times, as it leads to goofy sequences that are utterly impossible to take seriously. The editing and cinematography are standard. More coverage here and there would have helped loads. This does contain one of the funniest movie deaths of all time, and there are laughs to be had, if most are probably unintentional. There is some OK suspense and tension in this. The acting is lackluster. Several of the reasonably developed characters are obnoxious and just complain. The FX vary. On the whole, this is relatively satisfying if you don't expect too much from it, and the ending's not bad. There is a lot bloody(if a little of it looks ludicrously fake) violence and infrequent strong language in this. I recommend this to fans of the idea. 5/10

I guess it's safe to say that "loosely based" is a good thing. What I'm talking about is that, according to Wikipedia, Maximum Overdrive (which is an EXCELLENT movie) was "loosely based" on the short story "Trucks". I don't really know if this story was meant as a remake of MO, but it should have been left in the can and burned. The acting is deplorable, and overall just not worth wasting your time on. For a really good "killer vehicle" movie, take this back to the video store and exchange it for MO...you'll be glad you did. In fact, break the disc on the way there and tell them it was damaged when you got home..that way no one ELSE will make the mistake of renting it.

Various characters are trapped at a diner/tourist trap/gas station as semis & other commercial trucks operate on their own circling while "communicating" to each other via horn honking. Father and son, Ray(Timothy Busfield)and Logan(Brendan Fletcher)operate the desert spot with pal/cook George(Victor Cowie). Hope(Brenda Bakke, quite low-key, but offers a cool-headed chick)is a former RN who returned to the small desert town of Lunar after a rocky marriage that ended badly. Military man Thad(Roman Podhora)brought along his estranged daughter Abby(Amy Stewart), who reluctantly came along with her father at his ordered request as tourists seeking escape to Lunar while tagging along also is 50-year-old hippie Jack(Jay Brazeau). Meanwhile two truckers, Bob(Aidan Devine) and Pete(Rick Skene)resist the notion that their trucks will remain with out the drivers who occupy the vehicle seats. These truckers prove quite a problem for Ray as the situation escalates. A visiting couple, car salesman Brad(Jonathan Barrett)and displeased wife June(Sharon Bajer)are also in Lunar as tourists. One by one, the group fall victim to the homicidal trucks..cool heads will have to prevail if they have any chance of survival. Is there any hope for this group? The film provides possibilities for why the trucks are acting in such a fashion. A chemical spill. Area 51 is nearby. There was a comet shower. Hippie Jack offers lots of conspiracy theories and crazy notions..he offers the idea that the comet shower may've possibly bombarded the atmosphere with alien particles that have the radioactive power to guide mechanized machinery. Military man Thad informs Ray quietly that, while he was working as a helicopter man for the Air Force at Area 51, a scientific organization was running titled Project:Phoenix where high-powered telescopes sent out signals toward the stars calling out to alien life in space. Perhaps, the unfortunate events occurring is their way of answering? A different take on Stephen King's short story. Unlike King's only directed film, the zany "Maximum Overdrive", "Trucks" is told straight, serious in tone, tamer, and saner. "Trucks" isn't as bloodthirsty or outrageous as "Maximum Overdrive." But, "Trucks" hurts by a lack of budget and it's television confines limit what you can convey on screen. The trucks, like In King's film, do communicate and desire Ray to fill them with gasoline. "Trucks" has a neat little twist that does out duel King's version. This film probably has stronger, more likable characters, but the cast isn't as cool or interesting as King's film contains. "Trucks" really doesn't leave a lasting impression, either. Still not too bad, with some effective scenes.