Watch Trucks

"Trucks" is a 1997 horror thriller film inspired by Stephen King's short story of the same name. Directed by Chris Thomson, the film weaves a chilling tale of action and suspense, distinct from but sharing a kindred spirit with Stephen King's own adapted film, "Maximum Overdrive," which is also based on the same source material. In a quiet American small town, the tranquility of rural life is shattered when what should be inanimate machines come to life with murderous intentions. At the center of this mechanical uprising are the trucks, which suddenly gain sentience and begin to terrorize the local population.

The film stars Timothy Busfield as Ray Porter, a divorced father and traveling salesman who finds himself in the center of the growing terror. Brenda Bakke co-stars as Hope, a rugged and charming diner owner, and Aidan Devine plays Trucker Bob, a vital character in the brewing conflict between man and machine. The cast is rounded out by a solid supporting ensemble that reacts in varying ways to the escalating threat.

Ray Porter is passing through the town on a business trip when he becomes stranded with a group of other travelers who quickly realize that they are being hunted by a lethal convoy of trucks. With roads in and out of town controlled by these vehicles, they become isolated and cut off from the rest of the world, the booming sound of engines and blaring horns marking the emergence of a new, mechanical predator.

Hope runs the local diner that unintentionally becomes a refuge and battleground. Her strength and resilience are tested as she struggles to protect her son and the other survivors huddled within the diner's walls. As trucks begin to encircle the building, the survivors must band together to devise a plan for escape or fight back against the vehicles that have no desire to stop until they have crushed all human resistance.

Trucker Bob is a seasoned long-haul driver who knows his rig inside and out. But as the trucks turn against their drivers, Bob faces the ultimate betrayal from his own vehicle. His understanding of trucks and his experience on the road become invaluable as the group grapples with understanding and combating the inexplicable behavior of the vehicles hell-bent on their demise.

The atmosphere of the film is one of building tension and unease, punctuated by moments of explosive action. As the deadly capabilities of the trucks are revealed, they become characters in their own right — each horn blast and revving engine is a signal of intent as they manipulate or attack the humans trying to flee their onslaught.

"Trucks" offers a mix of psychological tension and physical thrills as the survivors must not only outsmart and outmaneuver the mechanical beasts but also confront the unraveling of societal norms in the face of an unprecedented threat. Tensions within the group rise as differing opinions on the best course of action emerge, with some favoring a more proactive, aggressive approach, while others advocate caution and stealth.

The narrative explores deeper themes such as reliance on technology, man's relationship with machinery, and the fear of losing control over the very creations meant to serve human convenience and industry. As the characters struggle with the confounding and terrifying situation, viewers are invited to ponder the potential consequences of technology gaining autonomy.

With set-pieces ranging from intense chases to close-quarters confrontations, the film blends the normalcy of everyday vehicles with the extraordinary circumstance of them becoming sentient adversaries. In doing so, the mundane setting of a small town becomes the unlikely epicenter for a struggle that calls into question what it means to be human in a world where machines start to think and act independently.

Cinematographically, the film utilizes both wide-angle shots that emphasize the isolation and vulnerability of the characters amidst vast, open landscapes and tight shots that capture the claustrophobic tension of being trapped indoors. The practical effects used to bring the trucks to life contribute to a tangible sense of dread—the vehicles imposing and relentless.

Critically, "Trucks" may not be considered a standout in the horror genre, both in terms of its production values and its adherence to the conventions of the period, but it possesses a certain B-movie charm and the focused storytelling of a tale about survival against seemingly impossible odds.

For fans of Stephen King adaptations, 90s horror films, and those intrigued by the concept of technology gone awry, "Trucks" is an engaging watch, delivering enough suspense and action to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The film serves as a reminder that sometimes the most innocuous of objects can become vehicles for pure terror when they decide to drive a path of their own.

Trucks is a 1997 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.9.