I did read the original novel tihs movie was based on, a few years ago, so I at least had an idea of the storyline before I went to see this movie at the cinema…the last classic horror movie I ended up watching in October at Cineworld, actually.
In the movie, it’s not very clear exactly what Christine is possessed by…whether it’s a demon, a ghost, or something more sinister. Arnie’s obsession with the car is very obvious from the beginning, the very moment he sees it. In many ways, his changes after purchasing Christine made me quite sad. In the beginning, before he purchased the car, he was a much more likable person…and I liked his friendship with Dennis. In some ways, the changes he underwent after getting Christine were actually good, as he became much more confident. However, that confidence made him lose a lot of his core self. It was more obvious in the novel, where he starts getting taken over by the spirit of the car’s previous owner, but it’s still very clear in the movie that he loses what makes him a ‘good’ person.
I really didn’t like Leigh, to be quite honest. I had the strong feeling that she only started dating Arnie after he was influenced by Christine, which means she never really knew Arnie as himself. I would have liked it more if the film focused on Dennis, in much the same way the book did. Unfortunately, Leigh just irritated me by the end of the movie…even when she and Dennis were trying to stop the car. Dennis seemed to do a lot more than her, even with his leg in a cast.
I probably shouldn’t have felt some sympathy towards Christine…but I actually did. That was probably helped by the fact that I really disliked Buddy and his gang. For most of the movie, I was waiting for them to get their comeuppance…and I really couldn’t fault Christine for taking her revenge on them, after they completely destroyed her and ruined all of the hard work Arnie had put into her. In many ways, she made me think of a wounded, feral animal who was lashing out at anyone who had hurt her…and anyone who might hurt her. Probably not the feel that the movie was going for, but that’s what I felt.
I did enjoy watching this movie for what it was and that it’s one of the classic horror movies…but I don’t think I’d watch this movie again. I’d be interested in a sequel that perhaps explores Christine coming back; maybe to get revenge, maybe for another reason…maybe something that further explores her origins. Does she hold onto Arnie’s spirit the same way she seemed to hold onto her previous owner’s spirit in the book? That’s a question I’d be interested in seeing the answer to.
Ink of Blood 