Search - Trucks on DVD

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 12/22/2018...

The "Maximum Overdrive" made-for-tv-rip-off you never knew about! Trucks is a 1997 Canadian and American film based on Stephen King's short story "Trucks". Incidentally, Maximum Overdrive is the only film of his directed by King himself. In that film a passing comet causes the mayhem. In "Trucks" it appears to be some sort of chemical spill? So, there you go. A ridiculous premise as the causal factor for vehicles developing intelligence, moving of their own accord, exhibiting threatening behavior, communicating in packs, and eliciting executionary diligence. For mindless drivel and extraneous incarnadine carnage, this show provided much entertainment value. I found myself chuckling quite a bit and didn't mind it at all.

I'd much enjoyed Brenda Bakke's character Selena Coombs in American Gothic, Shaun Cassidy's canceled masterpiece. It was nice to see her again here. If you're a King completist, well, then you must own this movie, where it'll sit on your shelf, staring at you for years, until, of course, a comet passes by or chemical spill occurs...

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 6/9/2018...

This movie should fall into Stephen King's shame horror film box. I should have sped watched it but left it running while I worked and it was very painful to hear and see every once in a while what was going on. The whole concept of a driverless truck was ridiculous. Christine made alot of sense as did "The Car" but this fell short.

Chad B. (abrnt1) from CABERY, IL
Reviewed on 3/18/2011...

Crap best describe this movie. It's a badly done made for tv remake of Maximum Overdrive. It adds some bs about Area 51 in an attempt to explain what's happening. This is pointless beyond belief. A boring waste of time.

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Stick with "Maximum Overdrive"

Zack H. | 07/09/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This television movie, based on Stephen King's short story "Trucks" is a complete waste of time. Stick with "Maximum Overdrive", a better adaption of the story that stars Emilio Estevez. You can find Maximum Overdrive on DVD for a great price. If you really want to see this film, wait til it comes on Sci-Fi channel."

Interesting,....

Matthew Scarborough | Oxford,MA USA | 06/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As previous reviewers have mentioned, "TRUCKS" is a remake of 1986's "Maximum Overdrive" (which I also purchased on Amazon). I liked "TRUCKS" better than "Maximum Overdrive" because it seemed as though there was more action in than its predecessor. I liked it even though the acting was deadpan- and the ending I liked much more than "Maximum Overdrive" (no spoilers). If you are a huge fan of Big Rigs and Trucks in general (A Western Star tractor is the lead truck)you will like this movie; if you are a fan of sci-fi movies you might want to watch. However, it's not a horror movie (compared to movies like "The Exorcist"), so you horror movie buffs might be disappointed; if your looking for famous actors/ any good acting for that matter this isn't the movie for you. However, the main characters in this movie are the trucks themselves, so it's not a total loss. It should keep you interested for 1 1/2..."

U-Turn, U-Die!!!

Mary A. Palkowski | Milwaukee, WI United States, Satellite of Love | 06/26/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie is an updating of 1986's "Maximum Overdrive", which was based on the short story that this is based on, with the story's title being the name of this movie. Timothy Busfield (the only big name in this one) stars as Ray, a man who has moved to the near-Area 51-town of Lunar. He and his son, Logan (Brendan Fletcher) are trying to make a new life for themselves. However, that will have to be put on hold for the time being, as driverless trucks are attacking the truck stop he works at. Because of the trucks, many people are stranded there, including a former hippie, a newlywed couple, a military man and his daughter, and two truckers. They must band together to survive, and find out the cause of this threat.Based upon the Stephen King story from his "Night Shift" collection, the movie is, agreeably, not bad for a made-for-TV movie, as it is quite chilling in a few scenes (The Tonka truck attacking an innocent mailman, and the spill generator in a control truck inflating a radiation suit which then grabs an axe and takes care of the drivers). Tim Busfield is good as the hero, and the supporting actors, being first time actors, get a passing grade from me. It is rumored that this was given a PG-13 upon video release, and then got more gore to bump it up to an R, and regrettably, that cut is not included. The movie is presented in widescreen, despite being a TV movie. Little grain is shown, and the print is quite clean. The extras fall flat, however, just being trailers for "Soemtimes They Come Back...Again", "The Tommyknockers", and the movie itself. Trimark does make some good DVD releases,. Unfourtunately, This isn't one of them. Good try, though.TRUCKS
(1997, R)Ray: Timothy Busfield
Hope: Brenda Bakke
Trucker Bob: Aidan Devine
Thad: Roman Podhora
Jack: Jay Brazeau
Logan: Brendan FletcherDirector: Chris Thomson
Writers: Stephen King (short story), Brian Taggert (teleplay)MOVIE: 4
VIDEO: 5
AUDIO: 5EXTRAS: 3
MENUS: 4
OVERALL: 4.5"