The Wraith

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, The Wraith is available in Australia on Hoopla, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Philo right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 521 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Charlie Sheen anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Put it on tonight on Hoopla and see for yourself.

There is a reason The Wraith keeps coming up in conversation. What makes The Wraith work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. Packard Walsh and his motorized gang control and terrorize an Arizona desert town where they force drivers to drag-race so they can 'win' their vehicles. After Walsh beats the decent teenager Jamie Hankins to death after finding him with his girlfriend, a mysterious power creates Jake Kesey, an extremely cool motor-biker who has a car which is invincible. Jake befriends Jamie's girlfriend Keri Johnson, takes Jamie's sweet brother Bill under his wing and manages what Sheriff Loomis couldn't; eliminate Packard's criminal gang the hard way... Charlie Sheen and Nick Cassavetes lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1986. What separates The Wraith from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find The Wraith genuinely rewarding. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Charlie Sheen anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.