Race With the Devil (1975)

40% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(3,015 ratings)

This novel fusion of car-chase film and spooky horror became a surprise box-office hit in 1975. The story begins with car enthusiasts Frank (Warren Oates) and Roger (Peter Fonda) taking their wives, Kelly (Lara Parker) and Alice (Loretta Swit), on a vacation in a recreational vehicle. Their camping… More This novel fusion of car-chase film and spooky horror became a surprise box-office hit in 1975. The story begins with car enthusiasts Frank (Warren Oates) and Roger (Peter Fonda) taking their wives, Kelly (Lara Parker) and Alice (Loretta Swit), on a vacation in a recreational vehicle. Their camping trip goes horribly awry when Frank and Roger accidentally stumble upon a group of hooded cultists committing a human sacrifice. The cultists give chase and the two couples barely escape with their lives. They go to the local police for help, but the officers can find no evidence to back up the story and send the two couples on their way. As they try to continue their vacation, strange events continue to occur that culminate in four protagonists and their cultist tormentors having a brutal automotive showdown on the open road. The end result of all this genre-hopping suffers from a lightweight approach that downplays the story's darker and more interesting elements, but still manages to deliver plentiful action and a few genuine chills. As a result, Race With the Devil became an unexpected success for 20th Century Fox and remains something of a cult favorite. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Jack Starrett
Genres: Action & Adventure, Horror, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1975 Wide
On DVD: Jun 28, 2005
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Simon Abrams, Slant Magazine
Peter Fonda makes a better badass in Dirty Mary than he does a milquetoast in Race with the Devil.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It was just goofy fun--probably the reason it caught on as a cult classic favorite.
Bill Gibron, DVD Verdict
Race with the Devil is the true definition of a drive-in classic, the kind of movie that really packed them in at the local passion pit
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Pretty bad Satanist thriller

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Not quite the insane road rage flick I was expecting to see, but still entertaining.
_kelly .

This movie just feels inconsequential. It is mentally tiring to try and come up with anything to say about this movie other than there's a few cool shots, it's a very standard 'went down the wrong road story', and I think it has got some tense moments, but overall… More
This movie just feels inconsequential. It is mentally tiring to try and come up with anything to say about this movie other than there's a few cool shots, it's a very standard 'went down the wrong road story', and I think it has got some tense moments, but overall it's nothing impressive. Some dirtbikes, devil-worshippers, dog-killers, and dirty cops collide in a big "car fight" at the conclusion, and several other times during the movie. So there's cool stuff, but it just doesn't come together to make a significant piece.
Khris N

Another 70's flick with a unique and totally whacked concept which leaves you highly entertained. This is a great thriller with a psychotic ending which you would never guess! The two icons, Fonda and Oates and their wives witness a Satanic ritual when on holiday driving… More
Another 70's flick with a unique and totally whacked concept which leaves you highly entertained. This is a great thriller with a psychotic ending which you would never guess! The two icons, Fonda and Oates and their wives witness a Satanic ritual when on holiday driving through a small county, and pretty soon the Cultists are violently pursuing them until they are focred to fight back just as viciously. A great road movie, and can be a bit chilling at times! Some great scenes.
xGary X

Amusingly ridiculous horror that sees an RV full of middle class yuppies terrorized by a satanic cult in Texas. Kind of a cross between Duel, The Wicker Man and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it's very dated and silly, which is the main reason why it entertains!
John M

"Race With the Devil" is not a classic movie perhaps, but a decent little slow budget satanic thriller from the 70's with some very tense moments and a few spectacular car chases.