PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Released in 1983 and celebrating its 40th birthday this year, Christine has the distinction of being directed by legendary Halloween director John Carpenter. However, in interviews, Carpenter stated that he only took the job due to production delays on other projects he was working on and didn’t consider it a “personal project” – more like just a “job.”
Though the film has become a cult classic, die-hard fans weren’t always on board with this adaptation of Stephen King’s 1983 novel due to the revisions made that seemingly left out important story details, including Christine’s own scary backstory.
Personally, Christine was the first King book I ever read, so I hold a special place for the novel in my heart. And I believe that when treated as a separate entity (as a bibliophile, this is a must for enjoying any book-to-film adaptation) the movie is entertaining, with a cool cast of near-unknowns that bring the characters to life, classic cars, engaging effects, and a bangin’ oldies soundtrack.
If you’re a King reader or familiar with the man himself at all, you know music looms large in King’s material, and particularly in this film, the songs take center stage as Christine will only play music from her beloved ‘50s era, when she rolled off the assembly line all nice and shiny.
I rewatched this film to prepare for this throwback, and I noticed a couple of things. First, I paid more attention to the cars knowing how hard it was for Carpenter to source multiple copies of the iconic Plymouth Fury (and knowing that the car described in the book was a bit more difficult if not impossible to find, as it shared many traits with other models of the same era) to show in various states of distress (according to online sources, there were 23 different ‘Christines’ used in filming).
Secondly, I noticed that the group of bullies, formed under ringleader Buddy Reperton’s leadership, is comprised of actors who look like they could easily pass for 25 or 30 years old. This is in stark contrast to the leads, the brand-new-to-movies, real-life teenager Alexandra Paul (Leigh Cabot), fresh-faced Keith Gordon (Arnie Cunningham), and perfect-for-the-part John Stockwell (Dennis Guilder).
Also, it’s fun to see Harry Dean Stanton (Pretty in Pink: 1986) as Detective Junkins – he’s an actor who has popped up so many times over the years, and it was always a pleasure to see what he’d play next.
The book starts off showing a pristine Christine at the Detroit factory where she was made, just a pile of metal and red shiny paint. Christine attacks two factory workers, putting in motion the idea that she was just ‘born bad’ (cue “Bad to the Bone”) when in fact, in King’s book, Christine is possessed by her original owner, Roland LeBay.
This is what makes it interesting in the novel when Arnie begins to act and speak like the deceased previous owner. I thought this was a super-cool part of the book. So, it would have been interesting if that had been echoed in the movie, but maybe that’s splitting hairs.
Some things I enjoy about the movie are the performances – I think all three leads do a solid job in a ridiculously strange situation. I love the soundtrack; the old rock and roll songs really add to the storytelling. The special effects look pretty damn good for 1983, and though the scares are, well, scarce here, it’s still a compelling story that keeps you entertained.
Articles about the film gave me some interesting insight – apparently the original actors considered for the roles of Leigh and Arnie were Brooke Shields and Scott Baio, respectively. However, the producers opted to go in a different direction, casting unknowns instead, which I believe worked to their advantage here.
Another bit of trivia from this film discusses the process that special effects designer Roy Arbogast used. He created rubber molds of Christine and used hydraulics for the scenes in which the car repairs itself, filming in reverse as the machines did their magic. Ah, practical effects, how I love you!
Though the film received a fairly lukewarm critical reception at the time, it did get some good reviews and did pretty well at the box office, and it’s easy to see why. Taken separately from the novel, with all of King’s rich detail and elevated storytelling, it’s a fun, easy-to-watch film that gives us a car with more personality than many human characters. You may even be rooting for Christine by the movie’s conclusion!
Christine is possessive, has a jealous streak, is used to being the center of attention, and doesn’t enjoy sharing the person she loves. She also has banger taste in music! (Two soundtracks were released for this film – one the score, and the other filled with the rock songs you hear in the movie).
This makes for an enjoyable viewing experience, and of course, the still-effective SFX coupled with the young actors’ believable performances and giddy fun ‘50s tunes gives Christine a spot on the list of the best King adaptations out there, in my opinion. Christine burns rubber past other half-ass King films like The Lawnmower Man and Thinner, just to name a few.
Honestly, personally, I love this movie. I think it’s just a fun popcorn flick strengthened by the effects, acting, music, and overall vintage vibe! If you haven’t seen it, buckle up and hit the gas – this crazy car film is worth a watch!
Note: As of October 2023, Blumhouse Productions is slated to begin filming a Christine remake, directed by Bryan Fuller. Fuller reportedly wishes to keep the original ‘80s time period of the first film, but at this juncture, though a script is said to be complete, there is no news about casting, filming, or a future release date.
Let’s just hope King is along for the ride and can make some meaningful contributions to ensure this remake is one of the good ones!
