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The Cars That Ate Paris

Play trailer Poster for The Cars That Ate Paris PG 1974 1h 31m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 35% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The residents of a small Australian town survive by causing traffic accidents, stripping the cars and stealing the valuables. When Arthur (Terry Camilleri) and his brother, George, have the misfortune of going through Paris, they become victims as well. George is killed in the accident, and Arthur is sent to a hospital where he struggles to remember how he arrived. Meanwhile, the mayor (John Meillon) has difficulty with Paris' younger residents, who have grown unpredictable lately.

Critics Reviews

View All (17) Critics Reviews
Derek Malcolm Guardian It's an Australian film, made by Peter Weir and later recut and shortened by Roger Corman. And it's about the most imaginative piece I've seen from that country, both funny and spine-chilling. Oct 11, 2023 Full Review Scott Tobias AV Club The whole thing is played too broadly, but home-improvement victims will appreciate the unending weeks it takes for a simple bathroom to be converted into a piece of avant-garde sculpture. Sep 28, 2018 Full Review Luke Buckmaster Guardian The Cars That Ate Paris is both part of that and a carnivalesque reflection of it. It's a complicated satire and a violent and eccentric classic. Sep 28, 2018 Full Review Russell Davies Observer (UK) The film could have done without a final revelation; but even so, Peter Weir can take pride in it. Oct 11, 2023 Full Review Matt Edwards Den of Geek The Cars That Ate Paris is a strange affair. It's a dark comedy and it's satirical, but it's also quite, quite insane. Rated: 3/5 Sep 28, 2018 Full Review Kenneth Robinson The Spectator At the end of the story the young men rebel against discipline and use the stock cars to attack and destroy many of the wooden buildings in the town. I looked for symbolism here and failed to find it. Jun 24, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (118) audience reviews
CodyZamboni Z Lame comedy horror film that lacks scares and laughs. Lots of weird, annoying characters, And the movie moves at a plodding pace, A total boring mess. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/21/25 Full Review Huid H It' so badly made it becomes nice Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Green G Incredibly strange but pretty fantastic debut from Peter Weir. This was right up my alley. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/07/21 Full Review Audience Member An Australian schlock splatter picture about the dangers of driving and obsession No one leaves Paris....alive that is After his brother dies in a car crash, Arthur Waldo is adopted by the mayor of Paris, a small Australian town with a steep downhill road In this part of the world its residents earn a living by causing accidents, then stripping the cars for parts to sell and using the few survivors as medical test subjects Unable to escape, Arthur becomes a reluctant resident Meanwhile, violent teens threaten to destroy the community with their menacing driving, which endangers citizens and property I got nothing out of this; there's too many gaps between the car stunts They're impressive but the film stretches out longer than it should focusing on these uninteresting townsfolk Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A small backwoods Australian town's economy is based around robbing, after causing a car accident, any outsiders. The residents act much like a cult, though there is a great division forming between two factions. This rift culminates in a nighttime battle where several residents are killed as they use their vehicles to fight one another. As a whole it was slow and unfunny, even confusing at times. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review delysid d this is one of the hardest to watch movies of the australian new wave Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/17/20 Full Review Read all reviews
The Cars That Ate Paris

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The Cars That Ate Paris

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Movie Info

Synopsis The residents of a small Australian town survive by causing traffic accidents, stripping the cars and stealing the valuables. When Arthur (Terry Camilleri) and his brother, George, have the misfortune of going through Paris, they become victims as well. George is killed in the accident, and Arthur is sent to a hospital where he struggles to remember how he arrived. Meanwhile, the mayor (John Meillon) has difficulty with Paris' younger residents, who have grown unpredictable lately.
Director
Peter Weir
Production Co
Royce Smeal Film Productions, The Australian Film Development Corporation, Salt-Pan
Rating
PG
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 31m