Writer-director
Stephen King falls short in his debut at the helm with Maximum Overdrive, an
absurd tale about a radiation storm that somehow animates machines across
the world, causing them to turn on their makers. The film focuses on a group
of survivors held captive at the Dixie Boy Diner by a group of bad-tempered
semis. Led by Emilio Estevez, the diner-goers do their impression of Ten
Little Indians, waiting their turn until each gets bumped off one by one.
There are holes in the plot big enough for the semis to drive through; for
example, why don't the trucks run over the diner at the start of the film
rather than wait for ninety minutes? Maximum Overdrive's only distinction is
that it is, without question, one of the worst films released in the '80s.| Emilio Estevez | Bill Robinson |
| Pat Hingle | Hendershot |
| Laura Harrington | Brett |
| Yeardley Smith | Connie |
| John Short | Curt |
| Ellen McElduff | Wanda/June |
| J.C. Quinn | Duncan |
| Christopher Murney | Camp Loman |
| Bill Huggins | Umpire |
| Leon Rippy | Brad |
| Patrick Miller | Joe |
| Connie Smith | |
| Stephen King | Man At Cashpoint |
| Marla Maples | 2nd Woman |
| Martin Tucker | 2nd Man |
| John Brasington | Frank |
| R. Pickett Bugg | Rolf |
| Jack Canon | Max |
| Barry Bell | Steve |
| Ned Austin | Bridgemaster |
| Bob Gunter | Coach |
| Bob Gooden | Barry |
| Holter Ford Graham | Deke |
| Richard Chapman, Jr. | Helper |
| Giancarlo Esposito | Videoplayer |
| J. Don Ferguson | Andy |
| Frankie R. Faison | Handy |
Genre/Type - Horror, Sci-Fi Disaster Film
Produced by - De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Release - Jul 25, 1986 (USA)
Released by - De Laurentiis Entertainment Gorup
Running time - 97 min.
The Car (1977, Elliot Silverstein)
The Mangler (1995, Tobe Hooper)
Wheels of Terror (1990, Christopher Cain)
Dark of the Night (1985, Gaylene Preston)
Pulse (1988, Paul Golding)
Trucks (1997, Chris Thomson)
Christine (1983, John Carpenter)