'Rollercoaster' was released in 1977 and stars George Segal, Timothy Bottoms, and Henry Fonda. The film is about a crazed bomber who is terrorizing and killing people at various amusement parks before extorting them for millions. Harry Calder (Segal) was a safety inspector on one of the rollercoasters the man bombed and soon becomes drawn into the sinister plot with his life being put at risk at every turn. This was one of those lucky break films of mine, in which I mean that I just happen to have caught the film late night on television and never forgot about it to this day (The film was just released on blu-ray disc in fact this June). I had always wished to seek out the film since and never was able to see it again until recently when I found it online. The film was just as entertaining as I remember, with it playing out like a Hitchcock film with great tense scenes.
The film is no masterpiece sure, but the serious tone the film takes when it could have taken a campy route both work in its favor and place it above those other 70's thrillers going on at the time. The film was often labeled as a 'Disaster Film' along with other films of the time such as 'Earthquake' and 'The Towering Inferno' however I have to agree with the director himself that 'Rollercoaster' is not even close to being in the same category. This is a mystery thriller plain and simple and it should be seen as such to truly appreciate it. Another smart decision that the producers made and what helps the Hitchcockian-esque atmosphere is that they deliberately toned down and edited out the more extreme sequences, leaving your brain to pick up the pieces, which makes the accidents much more disturbing.
As I mentioned above, the film's casting is great (including Helen Hunt in her first role as Harry's daughter) and honestly I'm surprised a film such as this could get such high caliber actors. George Segal is very humorous as Harry, a man who's fighting his smoking habit to comedic effect. Sometimes, it seems like he's more concerned with getting a smoke than the bomber which I found rather funny and it helps balance out the tension. Timothy Bottoms does really well as the bomber whose name is never given even the credits. His smug and creepy demeanor is perfect, you hate him so much and want to see him punished. The rest of the cast does well, although I have to say the climax has a band called 'SPARKS' singing for most of it. They are THE WORST SINGERS EVER, and the songs they sing go on forever. This is one annoying aspect of the film that grated on me but thankfully its at the end.
Some aspects of the film do not hold up as well as they may have back then. Character development for some are left on the floor perhaps to keep the pace going, but why even introduce some characters if nothing is going to happen? This mostly applies to Harry's girlfriend and his daughter, who are at the park during the climax which you think will lead to the bomber taking his daughter hostage or something similar but no such thing happens. 'Rollercoaster' is worth seeing, but don't expect something too spectacular. Its a cult film that appeals to many but not all, but I personally would check it out. What do you have to lose?
((B+))
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