First time watching a John Carpenter film and while I loved the visuals and style of the film, the music is brilliant too, I don't think I love it.
It's kinda boring for one, and too long but long in a way where you wish like they should have done more instead of focusing on the things they did. The practical effects and the bodywork on the car is absolutely brilliant and worth watching for that alone but that is if you had wanted a reason to watch it.
The acting is fine and I loved the interactions between Dennis and Arnie, they seemed such chill friends and Dennis cared so much about him.
Maybe part of the reason why this movie didn't work for me so much is because I grew up with Tarzan: The Wonder Car which is like an Indian adaptation for this film. That movie was much longer but to pay for that it also had a more fuller character arc and motivations for every character including the car, not saying a monster car needs a motivation but what we see in the film lacked for me. And Tarzan had more destructions and death than this film and in much more creative manner as well.
I have been thinking about this film since I watched it, trying to figure out why it is that I don't find anything wrong with it but still wouldn't feel compelled to watch it again but that's just how it is sometimes. If anything, it is a good 80s movie with 80s vibe if that's what you like
imo. you can skip both of those even though Carpenter did Halloween. My Carpenter picks are: Dark Star, Assault on Precinct 13, Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China. I might add They Live to the list, but there's a couple things about it that keep me from recommending to the unsure. Prince of Darkness has some redeeming qualities, and In the Mouth of Madness is great for people who care about Lovecraft, but I think it that's a requirement to enjoy it.