film

It sometimes feels like every John Carpenter film can be filed under "mixed reviews at first, later recognised as a cult classic", and 1983's Christine is absolutely no exception. Adapted from Stephen King's novel, this is a supernatural horror film par excellence that blends two things that can sometimes appear almost interchangeable: teenage angst and demonic possession. 

The story follows Arnie Cunningham, a socially awkward high school student who finds a battered 1958 Plymouth Fury. Arnie grows obsessed with restoring the car, which he names Christine., and as the restoration progresses he undergoes a disturbing transformation in personality, fracturing his relationships with friends and family. Christine, you see, is no ordinary car – she is very much alive, deeply jealous and violently protective of her owner, and she and Arnie forge a destructive bond.