“You leave here without punching out… and you ain’t never gonna have to punch out again, Bubba.” Who are you calling Bubba, Bubba? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out Maximum Overdrive (1986), Stephen King’s one and only stint in the director’s chair. All the boxes are checked: story by, screenplay by, and directed by Mr. King. This should be good, right? Right?
Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 245 – Maximum Overdrive (1986)
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Decades of Horror 1980s is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
A group of people try to survive when machines start to come alive and become homicidal.
- Writer/Director: Stephen King (based on the short story “Trucks” by)
- Music by: AC/DC
- Selected Cast:
- Emilio Estevez as Bill Robinson
- Pat Hingle as Bubba Hendershot
- Laura Harrington as Brett Graham
- Yeardley Smith as Connie
- John Short as Curtis
- Ellen McElduff as Wanda June
- Frankie Faison as Handy
- Leon Rippy as Brad
- Christopher Murney as Camp Loman
- J. C. Quinn as Duncan Keller
- Holter Graham as Deke Keller
- Barry Bell as Steve Gayton
- Pat Miller as Joey
- J. Don Ferguson as Andy
- Giancarlo Esposito as Videoplayer
- Stephen King (cameo) as ATM man
- Tabitha King as 1st Woman (uncredited)
- Marla Maples as 2nd woman
A cult favorite, Stephen King’s Maximum Overdrive may be remembered more for the iconic “Green Goblin” killer truck and the awesome AC/DC soundtrack than the film itself. Admit it. The film is a mess but in a so-bad-it’s-good sort of way. Goofy hijinks and silly shenanigans abound as Emilio Estevez struggles to save a small group of survivors trapped in the Dixie Boy truck stop. While the film is complete bunk, it remains a fun ride to revisit occasionally. Or, not.
At the time of this writing, Maximum Overdrive is available for streaming from Tubi and PlutoTV, and as PPV from multiple sources. It is also available on physical media in standard Blu-ray format from Lionsgate’s Vestron Video Collector’s Series.
Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Jeff, will be Nomads (1986), an oft-mentioned, oft-requested movie featuring Lesley-Anne Down, Pierce Brosnan, Mary Woronov, Adam Ant, and a wild, twisting story.This should be a good discussion!
Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.
Jeff has written for Horrornews.net and SQ Horror Magazine. He currently writes for Gruesome Magazine and is a co-host of the Decades of Horror podcasts - The Classic Era, 1970s, and 1980s - and the Gruesome Magazine Podcast.
