Rick Bowman, a drag racing street punk, comes to the attention of crafty businessman Grant Willard. Willard bails him out of jail and offers him sponsorship as a stock car driver. Bowman accepts and enters the demolition derby-adjacent world of "figure eight" racing. As Bowman moves up in the ranks, his regard for his friends slips-- giving way to outright obsession with becoming the best.
Practical Effects
Real figure-eight demolition racing, no CGI nonsense
Acting
Sid Haig's wild-eyed menace steals every scene
Direction
Jack Hill's lean, mean exploitation economy
Director
Jack Hill
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ellen Burstyn used her birth name 'Ellen McRae' here; she changed it shortly after.
Jack Hill shot this between Spider Baby and Coffy, refining his obsession with outsiders destroying themselves for status.
US
