No Surrender Cinema: The Wraith (1986)

Fast cars. Hot girls. Explosions. A supernatural force. Charlie Sheen. 30 years ago, someone took all of these ingredients and tossed them into a blender, and came up with a cult classic concoction.  The Wraith may not be a movie that is instantly recognizable to most, but I’d go as far as to call it the ultimate film for 80’s action movie fans.  Despite its PG-13 rating, The Wraith brings the goods (and in two instances, shows us the goods, thanks to some fine female actresses) and it’s a shame that it never really reached a wider audience.

Brooks, AZ seems like it could pass for your typical small town, save for the gang of road pirates that seem to run it.  Led by the sadistic Packard Walsh (Nick Cassavetes), this gang of miscreants looks as though they jumped straight out of the Double Dragon arcade game and onto the big screen.  The gang, which includes Ron Howard’s creepy little brother Clint, will take anything they want, by any means necessary.  This includes winning cars by cheating in races, intimidation, violence, and sexual assault (though the latter is more implied than anything.  Remember, PG-13).  The cops can’t seem to do anything, despite the best efforts of Sheriff Loomis (Randy Quaid, playing it straight as opposed to wacky Cousin Eddie style).

All hope is not lost, however.  The movie starts off with several shooting stars colliding with each other, and the resulting explosion leading to the formation of…a car?  As the camera pans over this interstellar automobile (the Dodge 4S Turbo Interceptor, a prototype car used for the film) we also catch the first glimpse of a figure clad in black, face obscured by a motorcycle helmet.  It would be about halfway through the movie before he’s named as such, but this is in fact The Wraith the film was named for.

Did I mention Charlie Sheen?  Because he’s new in town, and is sure to cross paths with our evil road hogs.  Sheen’s Jake Kesey wastes no time in showing interest in Keri Johnson (Sherilyn Fenn), which draws the ire of the obsessed Packard.  Jake also befriends Billy Hankins, whose brother used to date Keri, and was murdered by Packard in a jealous rage.  Thing is, Billy and Keri don’t know it was Packard, and thus Jamie Hankins’ murder remains a cold case.  Things get complicated when Keri returns Jake’s affection, pissing Packard off.  Jake is now doing his best to outrun the gang, while they’re simultaneously being killed off, one by one, by a certain supernatural speed demon.

Sounds like a lot, right?  How do all these plot points and storylines intertwine?  What the movie lacks in subtlety it makes up for in action.  It’s pretty obvious where things are heading right from the get go (the “hints” thrown at the audience leave nothing to the imagination), but the path of vengeance The Wraith takes is an enjoyable ride.  Packard is pure evil, and I’m not saying that just because Nick Cassavetes went on to direct The Notebook.  He lacks any redeeming qualities.  There is not one instance where you feel empathy for him.  No opportunity to turn him into some type of anti-hero.  He’s scum through and through.  A murderer, a rapist, and someone who would sell out his friends to save his own ass.  You WANT to see The Wraith drive his car right through him.  You’re hoping that The Wraith, in a tense scene that shows him wielding a super shotgun that makes him look like a Call of Duty character, will blow ol’ Pack away and be done with him once and for all.

Sheen is in likable, boy next door mode here, an image that seems so odd given the Sheen we now know.  Fenn is good as the conflicted Keri, torn between following Packard’s orders so that she doesn’t wind up dead and following her heart towards Jake’s advances.  Matthew Barry might be the most sympathetic character in the movie as BIlly Hankins.  Still reeling from the loss of his brother, Billy has no one to rely on except Keri, but every attempt to stick up for her winds up with him beaten down by the gang.  Jake seems to be his first real friend despite them barely knowing each other.  When the movie reaches its climax, there’s a touching little scene between the two of them en route to the expected happy ending.

Another thing that adds to the movie is its soundtrack.  “Where’s The Fire” might be the catchiest theme song to come from 80’s cinema.  Motley Crue, Robert Plant, and even Ozzy himself lend their work to the soundtrack.  The race scenes are filled with hard hitting rock music to get your adrenaline pumping even more, and only adds to the excitement brought on by The Wraith’s path of destruction.

The Wraith turns 30 on November 21st, so take some time out of your day to celebrate this high energy action flick.  It’s currently airing on the Showtime family of channels (and OnDemand), and can be had on DVD cheaply thanks to Amazon.  I’m hoping you’ll seek it out and agree with me on how enjoyable it is.  If you don’t, this won’t just be my first review for Bulletproof Action, it might be my last!