This adaptation of Stephen King's novel is like a horror fans dream come true as you have a flick based on King's enjoyable book helmed by genre pro John Carpenter.

Keith Gordon is perfect as nerdy Arnie Cunningham who buys an old beaten-up 1957 Plymouth Fury. Turns out said Fury (which has been dubbed "Christine") is possessed by an evil spirit that proceeds to transform its new owner into a bitter "cool" kid while knocking off all the bullies that picked on him and anyone else who gets in the way of their "love". Best friend John Stockwell and his girlfriend Alexandra Paul set out to stop "her".

Underrated effort captures teen life fairly well, has a great oldies soundtrack (and another strong score by Carpenter himself), is directed with a confident and steady hand (Carpenter gives "Christine" a great jealous personallity) and ends with a decent final showdown. That's not to say it's all perfect as Gordon's transformation comes on a bit too quickly (and is never really focussed on enough), it manages to waste dependable character actor Harry Dean Stanton (as a detective) and we could have used a bit more backstory as to just how the car became possessed; but overall it's a watchable effort that stands as one of the better King adaptations out there.

How can you not love the scene where Christine rebuilds herself and you have to dig the appropriate use of George Thorogood's "Bad To The Bone" tune (I believe this was the first of many movies to use it).

Directed By: John Carpenter.
Written By: Bill Phillips.

Starring: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky.