The Wraith is a 1986 action/science fiction film, directed and written by Mike Marvin. Based on true events, in which a teen involved with illegal street racing caused four deaths in Arizona, filmed in Tucson.
Plot summary
Packard Walsh (Nick Cassavetes) and his gang steal the cars of people they threaten into intimidation races. As a result, the entire town is scared of him, except for his 'proclaimed' girlfriend Keri Johnson (Sherilyn Fenn), who, in reality, wants nothing to do with Packard.
Packard's control of the highways is suddenly targeted by the driver of a black high powered vehicle known only as the Wraith. The unknown racer arrives in town, just as a new guy named Jake Kesey (Charlie Sheen) does. Jake's first move is on Keri, and he also befriends Billy Hankins (Matthew Barry), who was the younger brother of her ex-boyfriend. Jake asks Billy about Keri's intentions with Packard, and Billy reveals to him that Keri was dating his brother Jamie before he was killed.
While Jake and Keri become closer, Packard's gang gets smaller and smaller as they each take on the unknown car in one on one races and end up dead at the end of them. Sheriff Loomis (Randy Quaid) begins tracking down the car in an attempt to find out what's going on, but the unknown driver is unstoppable.
After finally spending time with Jake during which they make love, Keri notices the similarities between Jake and her ex-boyfriend, Jamie. Packard decides to confront Keri after the last of his gang is killed by the Wraith, except for Rughead (Clint Howard) who quits the gang upon realizing who was after them and why, and he beats Billy in front of everyone at the fast food spot that he works at along with Keri. When Keri questions Packard, he reveals to her that he had Jamie killed because he felt he should have her instead of Jamie. Just as he pulls his switchblade, the Wraith appears and challenges him to one last race, which results in Packard being killed. With no gang left, Sheriff Loomis ends the investigation and the pursuit of the Wraith.
That night, Keri is arriving at her home just as the driver of the Wraith pulls up to the curb and reveals himself as Jake. Keri can't believe her eyes- but Jake tells her that his new body was the closest he could get to being Jamie again, and tells her that they were "destined" to be together. He then asks her to wait for him because he has one last thing to take care of.
Jake finds Billy cleaning up at the fast food kitchen, and gives him the keys to the Interceptor, the only one of its kind. Billy asks "Who are you, bro?", to which Jake replies, "You said it, brother." Just before he rides off on his dirt bike, Jake shouts that the instruction manual is in the glove box compartment of the car. Billy runs after him, but Jake is already gone. As Billy shouts after Jake, he realizes that Jake is in fact his murdered brother Jamie (shouting first "Jake" and then "Jamie"). Jake picks up Keri who was being watched by Sheriff Loomis, and they ride off into the night.[1]
Cars
The opening scene is a race between a Dodge Daytona (1984-1986 body) and the winning car, a Chevrolet Corvette (1977-1982 body). The Wraith's car was based on the 1984 Dodge M4S prototype sports coupe featuring a Trans Four OHC 8 valve I4 Engine (400 Horsepower @ 7000 RPM. Top Speed: 194.8 (observed speed - 1984 Road & Track Magazine)). Priced at over $1 million, there are rumored to be only four in existence, with another replica built. It is rumored that the actual car used in the movie was a replica made from the original body molds of the M4S, but not a car originally built by the factory.
Packard's gang drives a variety of American cars ranging from a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, 1985 GMC Sierra to another 1984-86 Dodge Daytona, the first car to fall victim to the Wraith.
Main cast
Death of Bruce Ingram
The movie is dedicated to the memory of Bruce Ingram, a camera operator who died during the filming of one of the car chases.[2]
Soundtrack
Release
The movie was released on VHS by Lightning Video and on laserdisc by Image Entertainment in 1987. In 2003, the movie was released on DVD by Platinum Disc. In spite of having no features and only being shown in pan and scan, there is some footage that was missing from the original VHS and laserdisc releases. Lionsgate will release a special edition DVD in March 2010.[3]
See also
External links
Notes
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