**Mild Spoilers**
The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) was a movie that I had heard of but up until now never watched. The title always intrigued me, but upon viewing the movie the title is a little misleading. Leaving that aside this is quite a strange movie, almost like a slightly surreal Mad Max. Not that is a bad thing, I certainly found the movie more entertaining than I had expected.
The plot of this movie revolves around a village named Paris. Think less Paris, France and more rural Australia. Two brothers, George and Arthur Waldo, are towing a caravan around the country. They drive up a country road when suddenly bright lights and loud noise cause their car to wreck. When Arthur wakes up he is hospital, his brother George died in the crash. The people in Paris want Arthur to stay, they even give him a job as hospital ordely, then as a car parking attendant. Something is not right, however, Arthur has become imvolved in a struggle between young (drivers) and older (authority). Will Arthur survive the car-nage? Pun intended.
The acting was surprisingly good. The dialogue was adequate, although nothing to remember. The special effects consists of stock cars destroying things and cars rolling off cliffs. Again, they are adequate if somewhat limited. The cinematography is not great, but its not awful either. The plot started well but as the movie went on it became more difficult to believe.
This is quite a strange movie. Perhaps it is because of the vehicles, and Australia aa the location, but it is difficult not to compare it with Mad Max. Other times the movie makes me think of a Monty Python sketch. The movie is at times a little surreal but for me that is a bonus. There isn't much gore to be seen so gore hounds will not be satisfied.
6 out of 10
Summary: perhaps not a horror movie, but still an entertaining if somewhat strange movie.