Sunday, October 20, 2013

31 Days of Horror Movie 20

The Wraith
1986
Platinum DVD

Before buying this DVD almost a decade ago I had never heard of the film. But after watching it ,it became one of my favorite 80s horror films.

Jamie is a young man who died and the body was never found. Packard Walsh is suspected of killing him. Packard leads a gang of car racers. And has a gorgeous girlfriend played by Sherilyn Fenn. Then one day a mysterious car shows up and starts killing off Packard's gang. Charlie Sheen also shows up around the same time as this mysterious car. He ends up hooking up with Ms Fenn. And we  find out at the end that somehow Jamie's spirit is now in his younger brother's body. The younger brother being played by Charlie Sheen.

This is sort of a prototype for The Crow. We get the guy coming back for revenge against the gang that killed him. I have wondered since seeing this film if maybe James O'Bar was inspired by it. Ms Fenn is great like she is in everything she has done. Plus there is a very short cameo by a late teens Brooke Burke. I don't even think she is listed in the credits. But the first time I watched the movie I noticed her.

The DVD sadly is full frame and has no extras. I know since this version came out a newer better version is out on the market. I will one day pick that up.

The Wraith gets a C+.