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He's not from around here...
Packard Walsh and his motorized gang control and terrorize an Arizona desert town where they force drivers to drag-race so they can 'win' their vehicles. After Walsh beats the decent teenager Jamie Hankins to death after finding him with his girlfriend, a mysterious power creates Jake Kesey, an extremely cool motor-biker who has a car which is invincible. Jake befriends Jamie's girlfriend Keri Johnson, takes Jamie's sweet brother Bill under his wing and manages what Sheriff Loomis couldn't; eliminate Packard's criminal gang the hard way...
Wuchak
Dec 1, 2024 · via TMDB
**_Hammy 80’s motorhead thriller with Charlie Sheen and Sherilyn Fenn_** A ruthless (but comical) gang terrorizes a town in southern Arizona, forcing guys to drag race in order to ‘win’ their vehicles; that is, until a young man comes to town (Sheen), along with a mysterious black sportscar and driver. Randy Quaid is on hand as the Sheriff. "The Wraith" (1986) is like a meshing of the contemporaneous “Top Gun” with the campiness of “Lost Boys” (which came out the next year), just trade the pilot ace flying with drag racing and the vampires with a thug gang. The hammy approach mainly applies to Skank (David Sherrill), Gutterboy (Jamie Bozian) and tech-geek Rughead (Clint Howard) whereas Nick Cassavetes is more subdued about it as the lead bully, but still cartoonishly exaggerated. Nick, by the way, is the son of John Cassavetes & Gina Rowlands, which is odd since John was only 5’7” while Nick is 6’6”, but I guess it happens. I’m not a fan of the hammy tone and think it would’ve worked better if done more seriously, like “Top Gun.” However, if you can roll with the goofiness, it’s entertaining on several fronts. For instance, the Arizona locations are spectacular, Sherilyn Fenn’s beauty is well captured and there’s a lot of thrilling vehicle mayhem. It runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in the Greater Tucson area, including the Sonoran Desert National Monument in Gila Bend, which is 92 miles northwest of Tucson (and just southwest of Phoenix). GRADE: B-
misubisu
Aug 6, 2024 · via TMDB
I first saw this movie back in 1986... didn't really remember too much about it... decided to watch it again after seeing the car in an episode of Leno's Garage. You know what.. it is actually very entertaining movie... it doesn't suck at all. The bad boy characters are somewhat stupid but fit in quite well... the story is a little simplistic... but sometimes watching a movie that is entertaining and you don't need to think too much about is just what you need. Plus it was a trip down memory lane from 35 years ago. Charlie Sheen was 21, but looked a lot younger!! For the time, the movie had a good look and feel to it. And the Wraith car stands the test of time really well.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Charlie Sheen
Jake Kesey / The Wraith
Nick Cassavetes
Packard Walsh
Sherilyn Fenn
Keri Johnson
Randy Quaid
Sheriff Loomis
Matthew Barry
Billy Hankins
Clint Howard
Rughead
David Sherrill
Skank
Jamie Bozian
Gutterboy
Griffin O'Neal
Oggie
Chris Nash
Minty
Steven Eckholdt
George in Daytona
Liz Kern
Girl in Daytona (as Elizabeth Cox)
Christopher Bradley
Jamie Henkins
Jeffery Feaster
Teen at Falls (uncredited)
Brooke Burke
Roller Skating Waitress (uncredited)
Buddy Joe Hooker
Stunt Coordinator
David R. Ellis
Stunts
Freddie Hice
Stunts
Karen Price
Stunts
Norman Howell
Stunts
Sandy Berumen
Stunts
Steve M. Davison
Stunts
Mike Marvin
Director
Ilene Starger
Casting
Buck Houghton
Executive Producer
J. Peter Robinson
Original Music Composer
Bonnie Tyler
Songs
Stan Bush
Songs
Mike Marvin
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Jul 20, 2021
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The Stranglers - Live '78, SF
1978
Saddle Leather Law
1944
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
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Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
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