Wolff rating: FAIR
Plot summary: Man finds himself drawn into a world of sex and auto accidents.
Biased, pithy comments: Douglas Adams, in ``Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,'' writes that Vogons have ``as much sex appeal as an auto accident.'' With this film, we get to explore that question---how much sex appeal is there in an auto accident? The answer, we discover, is ``not much.'' After watching this film, I found myself far more turned on by seeing Deborah Unger and Holly Hunter nekkid than I was by any sort of car accident. It's one of those movies that use husky, emotionless, slow talking to substitute for something sexy. There are a few moments in the film where it works---the lurching old Lincoln, barely held together, clearly representing the libidos of the characters, and perhaps a few other moments, but otherwise this is an alien film about alien people. Cars are sexualized objects, yes, but the act of crashing them isn't sexy, somehow, or if it is, neither author Ballard or director Cronenberg has figured out how to explain it to us. Your mileage may vary.
Other Notes: They apparently used 6 vintage Lincolns to portray the car. Neat.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: James Spader, Holly Hunter, Elias Koteas, Deborah Unger, Rosanna Arquette.
Directed by: David Cronenberg