Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Nerdy high schooler Arnie Cunningham falls for Christine, a rusty 1958 Plymouth Fury, and becomes obsessed with restoring the classic automobile to her former glory. As the car changes, so does Arnie, whose newfound confidence turns to arrogance behind the wheel of his exotic beauty. Arnie's girlfriend Leigh and best friend Dennis reach out to him, only to be met by a Fury like no other.
Christine is a memorably distinctive horror entry built around a killer car with genuine personality — the anthropomorphized 1958 Plymouth Fury is an iconic and singular screen villain. Carpenter's direction gives the film a cool, moody atmosphere and some visually striking sequences (Christine regenerating in the dark to 50s rock is genuinely memorable). The plot is solid Stephen King adaptation territory but loses steam in the third act, and the ending feels abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying. Acting is competent — Keith Gordon does well with Arnie's transformation — but nobody transcends the material. The film's true distinction is its premise and execution: a possessive, jealous car as horror monster remains one of horror cinema's more original conceits.