The Wraith (DVD)

Modern car-racing movies such as the “Fast and the Furious” series and “Death Race,” while borrowing elements from modern Japanese car-racing movies and popular anime also indirectly pay tribute to George Miller’s cult classic “Mad Max” (1979) and to the original, popular TV series “Knight Rider” (1982). One movie that is missing from the list of popular car-racing movies, though, that has inspired other such movies in the genre is Mike Marvin’s “The Wraith” (1986). After seeing the cover of the DVD that shows a person dressed in a semi-black leather suit, standing in front of a black sports car, my memory was immediately refreshed with scenes from the “Knight Rider” series and “The Terminator.”


The movie begins when Packard (Nick Cassavetes) and his gang force an innocent couple into a drag race. Packard’s gang control highways that pass through a nearby town, and anyone passing along these roads is asked to participate in a race. Soon, the gang is challenged by an unknown person called the Wraith, dressed in a black suit and driving a black car. A new driver, Jake, played by Charlie Sheen, comes to the same town where Packard resides. He soon befriends Packard’s current girlfriend, Keri (Sherilyn Fenn), who is apparently frustrated with Packard’s gangster mentality and his forceful ways to attach to her. Later, the Wraith challenges Packard and his gang to a race. Through various races, the Wraith kills a number of Packard’s gang members. Packard begins to suspect something unusual about Jake and soon begins to follow his movements.


In the meantime, Sheriff Loomis (Randy Quaid) has been closely following Packard’s men, and Packard is the prime suspect in deaths that have occurred as a result of car racing. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Jake in fact is the Wraith, who is out to seek vengeance after he was left for dead by Packard’s men with fatal wounds. Packard later confesses to Keri that he killed Jamie, who has now resurfaced as Jake, so that Keri can be with him. In the final moments, Jake invites Packard for a final race.


Even though the film is predictable in its execution, it still succeeds in paying tribute to its successors. The director, Mike Marvin, mentions in an interview included with this disc how the filmmakers stole the idea from Clint Eastwood’s “High Plains Drifter” (1973). The producer was sold on the concept of a revenge tale with car racing as the underlying premise. The filmmakers wanted to specifically use the cars from the 80s with a futuristic look. Chrysler undertook the task of designing and building various models in the film that soon became icons in the auto industry. Notably, similar stylized models appeared in the famed series “The Fast and the Furious.”  The film also represents the cultural themes of the 80s perfectly, most importantly in its use of punk themes prevalent in the 80s. The film’s soundtrack consists of tracks from punk and hard rockers like Billy Idol, Ozzy Osborne, and Motley Crue who ruled the 80s music scene.


“The Wraith” is not only known for staging the careers of various movie stars in their later years, but is also remembered for casting actors Charlie Sheen, Nick Cassavetes, and Sherilyn Fenn in their first major leading roles. Later in their careers, Charlie Sheen directed a couple of short movies, whereas Nick Cassavetes became a famous director and Sherilyn Fenn was credited with a major role in the “Twin Peak” series, for which she won an Emmy Award for the best supporting actress. Apart from launching the careers of these actors, “The Wraith” created its own unique style that influenced a slew of movies that followed it. “Robocop” (1987), “Point Break” (1991), and “The Terminator” (1991) all borrowed a core concept from “The Wraith.” Of course, some of these movies succeeded in a big way because of their better storytelling and production elements.


“The Wraith” is dated by today’s standards; however, it retains enough appeal at a general level. The movie suffers from cheesy acting and corny dialogue, primarily due to the inclusion of the inexperienced actors in its cast. The storytelling moves in a linear fashion, and it is fairly predictable from a viewer’s perspective. As a result, the film never threatens to become anything substantial, nor does it leave any lasting impression on the viewer. Nevertheless, it entertains modestly, if you are just looking to pass ninety minutes of your time. It’s a harmless little flick.


Video:
The movie is rendered in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1:78.1. Mostly, the film is shot is brightly lit outdoor scenes, with bright colors composed of blues, reds, and yellows. It is during the night scenes where the transfer is a bit soft and grainy. Fortunately, the print is clear of any specks or blemishes.


Audio:
Lionsgate has included a 2.0 Dolby Digital English track for this release. It is probably the same mix released in theaters upon the movie’s release. There is nothing special about the track. The dialogue is audible and mostly driven through the front channels. Overall, it works well with the overall sound design of the 80s. Also, included is the option to view the movie with English and Spanish subtitles.


Extras:
The previous DVD release was a bare-bones affair. This new release from Lionsgate includes a number of new, informative extras.


First, we have a featurette, “The Ride of the Future” (16x9, 15 minutes) that talks about how Chrysler was involved in the project and its role in designing a car that was ahead of its time. In addition, the stunt master provides his thoughts on various risky stunts in the film.


Up next, we have an interview with the director, Mike Marvin (16x9, 10 minutes), in which he discusses how the filmmakers came up with this idea. He admits that “The Wraith” is composed of ideas stolen from various movies including Eastwood’s “High Plains Drifter.” He remembers how Charlie Sheen and Nick Cassavetes had a close working relationship. Also, he reveals that there was a continuous friction between the director and the producer of the film. Marvin had to face stiff resistance from his production crew as well. The producer forced the entire crew to work on tight timelines, shooting as many as 110 shots on a single day.


Following this interview, we get another interview, this one with Clint Howard (16x9, 12 minutes), who played the role of a car engineer in the movie. He describes how he enjoys doing any movie be it a B flick, an action film, or an art-house movie. Early in his career, he recalls his role as the lead actor ahead of Johnny Depp in a short movie. As an actor, he always wanted to work with Jack Nicholson and Randy Quaid.


Rounding off the extras is an excellent commentary track by the director, Mike Marvin. Here, among other things, he talks about intricate details on designing the opening sequence of the movie. The conceptual artist (also involved in “Predator”) composed the shot using a mixture of various animation techniques. The concept of converging lights in the opening segment formed the basis of car advertisements during that time. He credits his production team for creating strong sets for the movie.


Finally, we get an original theatrical trailer for the movie.


Parting thoughts:
“The Wraith” does not break any new ground. However, its influence is evident in the later films of the 80s. Today, the film has a cult following and rightly so. Although, the movie lacks in the acting department, it redeems itself in the action sequences. This movie is best enjoyed with a bag of popcorn. It’s a thrilling ride, for sure.