Anthony Timpone, longtime editor of Fangoria magazine, said issue 56 is his most regrettable cover in nearly three decades of work. Which cover is he speaking of, you ask? The 1986 Maximum Overdrive issue - the movie with the killer soda machine. It seems Christine wasn't enough for Mr. King, he had to go and do another automotive run amok story.
I know the film has garnered a cult following, but I still call it an absolute train wreck. Stephen King has said he was "coked and drunk out of (his) mind" while directing this thing. As if that weren't bad enough, King was sued for $18 million by the director of photography who was injured by a remote control lawnmower (he lost an eye).
While I'm on the topic of the mid-80's and automotives, I can't resist mentioning the infamous 1985 Plymouth Duster commercial. It earns it's place in the pantheon of retro trash not only for its incredibly manic 80's awfulness, but because it looks like it was filmed in a giant cocaine factory!
Not surprisingly, an urban legend has sprung up that the commercial was literally filmed in a loft used for cocaine production.... in other words, a real cocaine factory. As to the legitimacy of this urban legend, it's pretty much bogus. However, this being the mid-80's, I'm sure there was plenty of cocaine on hand regardless.
(And by the way, that's Finola Hughes singing "Dustah! Dustah!". You may recognize her from her extensive soap opera work, or maybe from Blossom or Stayin' Alive.)
I know the film has garnered a cult following, but I still call it an absolute train wreck. Stephen King has said he was "coked and drunk out of (his) mind" while directing this thing. As if that weren't bad enough, King was sued for $18 million by the director of photography who was injured by a remote control lawnmower (he lost an eye).
While I'm on the topic of the mid-80's and automotives, I can't resist mentioning the infamous 1985 Plymouth Duster commercial. It earns it's place in the pantheon of retro trash not only for its incredibly manic 80's awfulness, but because it looks like it was filmed in a giant cocaine factory!
Not surprisingly, an urban legend has sprung up that the commercial was literally filmed in a loft used for cocaine production.... in other words, a real cocaine factory. As to the legitimacy of this urban legend, it's pretty much bogus. However, this being the mid-80's, I'm sure there was plenty of cocaine on hand regardless.
(And by the way, that's Finola Hughes singing "Dustah! Dustah!". You may recognize her from her extensive soap opera work, or maybe from Blossom or Stayin' Alive.)
