Internet Janitor
Maximum Overdrive is a trainwreck of a movie. It’s over the top of muted performances, crazy action and very little makes sense, and I love it. It is the only Stephen King movie that was both written and directed. When asked why he hasn’t directed a movie since he simply askes people to watch Maximum Overdrive for their answer.
We begin at the Dixie Boy Truck Stop in North Carolina and meet short-order cook Bill Robinson (played by Emilio Estevez post The Breakfast Club and pre-Mighty Ducks), who fried up some eggs and whatever else at the greasy diner. It was as if his evil (think old-timey mustache-twirling type), played by Pat Hingle, who played Commissioner Gordon in the 1989 Batman film, wasn’t enough. Anything electric starts coming alive after a comet passes.
One quick thing before we continue. Have you ever wondered what Lisa Simpson would sound like with a southern drawl and impossibly whiny? Well, here’s your chance to scratch that itch. Connie, the newlywed bride, is played by Yeardley Smith, and you’ll be begging for her character to be hit by one of the trucks by the end of the movie.
Sadly, Maximum Overdrive tanked at the box office. It’s since become a justifiable cult classic, though. By his own admission, Stephen King was coked out of his mind while filming this movie and, at one point, had to get some help for that, apparently. Rumor has George Romero being on set frequently to give him a hand as the pair had previously worked together on Creep Show in 1992.
It does not make sense, and that is something you’ll just have to deal with. Why did the trucks and appliances come alive? The comet. But seriously, some of the rules of this universe make no sense. Why? I told you already, the comet. It is what it is.
The performances range from over-the-top theatrics to Emilio Estevez playing his character like he really needs a nap. We also get to see a young Giancarlo Esposito (from Breaking Bad and The Mandalorin) as an unnamed character as the chaos begins to happen.
It’s so bad, it’s good. Period. It may not be your cup of tea, but it’s the kind of madness we don’t get much of, as so many things are overly serious. It even gave us the infamous Green Goblin truck, which is what most people remember about the film.
So give it a try. Just keep an eye on your toaster.