Sometimes films made in the eighties can only have come from that decade. The Wraith is one such film. Everything about it screams the eighties, and it’s all the more wonderful for it.
Packard (Nick Cassavetes) is a town bully who, alongside his punk-looking conies, hijack drivers, forcing them to race and taking their vehicles when they lose. He’s also very possessive of his reluctant girlfriend, Keri (Sherilyn Fenn). When a stranger, Jake (Charlie Sheen) comes to town, Packard has some competition. Not only for his girlfriend, but a mysterious, souped-up Dodge Interceptor is taking out his men in races; not winning the cars, but costing them their lives.
The Wraith is not only crammed full of fantastic (and extremely ell executed) car chases but it serves as a video jukebox for some of the best (and worst) of eighties pomp-rock. However, despite top billing, Charlie Sheen has very little to do other than pick Sherilyn Fenn up on his motorbike. When doubling as the Wraith, he’s head-to-toe in leather wearing a helmet so could be (and probably was) anyone. The villains are much more memorable. Nick Cassavettes makes his hateable character very watchable, and his minions (who include a brilliantly manic Clint Howard in their ranks) are a motley bunch who look like rejects from The Warriors.
Very little is mentioned about the extra-terrestrial origin of Sheen’s Wraith and we can only assume that an alien race enjoys sending their creatures down to Earth to avenge wrong-doings. In this case, the murder of the local burger-flipper’s brother at the hands of Packard and his men.
It’s breezily written and directed by Mike Marvin, and while it’s no classic in any sense, it’s a fun watch and, as mentioned, has impressive car chases. The Blu-ray release – as part of the Vestron Collector’s Series is packed full of decent extra features, too, with two commentaries and a whole bunch of informative interviews. It’s a film that doesn’t deserve such riches but will bring a smile to the face of many VHS fans.
The Wraith is released on Blu-ray on November 15th.
