RACE WITH THE DEVIL

US, 1975, 88 minutes. Colour.
Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit, Lara Parker R.G. Armstrong.
Directed by Jack Starrett.

How this film would stand up as a realistic picture of Satan-worshippers pursuing holiday-makers down the Texas highways? But that's not the point. This is a chase thriller (likened by many to an old Western, with heroes shooting from the tops of caravans instead of coaches and villains pursuing in anonymous cars and trucks). There is quite an amount of excitement and tension generated by the film - identification with two innocent couples who are relentlessly hounded. It makes for a great build-up and let out of aggressiveness on the part of the audience. But the ending will make the audience pause before rushing out.

1. The significance and tone of the title? the chase. the theme of the Satanism in Texas? The indications of excitement?

2. The setting of the film was Texas. How was the film a modern version of a western? The traditions and style of a western? Heroes, villains, chases, violence? The updating of these?

3. How interesting was the plot? The conventions of the adventure? The atmosphere of the excitement? The use of shocks and cinematic editing? Violence? The chase eluding villains, the need for survival? How well did the film involve its audience?

4. The initial build-up of the holiday atmosphere? The characters, their friendships, the marriages, the cycle work, business, the saving-up of the money, the caravan and its luxury, the goal of the holiday? The presentation of the couples as ordinary Americans? The audience finding it easy to identify with them?

5. The travel, the atmosphere of the first night? Relaxation, bike-riding, drinking and talking? Leading to curiosity? Their reactions to the murder?

6. Audience reaction to the murder, Satanism, witches and horror?

7. The speed of the first chase? Being bogged in the river, the pursuers leaping on the caravan? The panic and excitement? The wives not knowing what was happening? How well did the film create the atmosphere of fear and confusion?

8. The encounter with the sheriff? The atmosphere of suspicion? The dead dog and the blood sample? Suspicion confirmed in the library? The note on the caravan?

9. The relaxation in the club? Delbert and Ethel and relaxation? The sudden change of atmosphere with the dead dog, the sudden shock of the snakes? How had the film created audience tension by this stage?

10. The phones being dead, the people being suspicious, the buying of the gun? The attendants at the gas stations? The need for flight? The sense of panic?

11. How well did the couples cope with the troubles?

12. The big chase, the atmosphere of the western, the shooting from the top of the caravan, the bumping of the cars?

13. The atmosphere of conspiracy? How credible was this?

14. The ending and its menace? How did the film leave audiences? How much fear? Were the events plausible? In modern city America?

15. The comment on human nature, the pessimistic outlook of the film?