The Car

Right now you can watch The Car on streaming — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 332 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. James Brolin's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

The Car arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. At its heart, The Car understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. The Utah community of Santa Ynez is being terrorized by a mysterious black coupe that appears out of nowhere and begins running people down. After the car kills off the town sheriff, Captain Wade Parent is determined to stop the murderous driver. James Brolin and Kathleen Lloyd lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1977. The plot mechanics of The Car never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in The Car. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Watch James Brolin work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.