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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
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
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

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Derek Malcolm Guardian 10/11/2023
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. Go to Full Review Scott Tobias AV Club 09/28/2018
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. Go to Full Review Luke Buckmaster Guardian 09/28/2018
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. Go to Full Review Russell Davies Observer (UK) 10/11/2023
The film could have done without a final revelation; but even so, Peter Weir can take pride in it. Go to Full Review Matt Edwards Den of Geek 09/28/2018
3/5
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Richard W @rdwoolf Aug 28 A folk horror, of sorts, set in a small, rural town in seventies Australia. See more CodyZamboni Z 06/29/2024 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. See more Huid H 02/05/2023 It' so badly made it becomes nice See more Green G 08/07/2021 Incredibly strange but pretty fantastic debut from Peter Weir. This was right up my alley. See more 06/11/2021 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 See more 10/07/2020 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. See more Read all reviews
The Cars That Ate Paris

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Peter Weir

Director

Terry Camilleri

Arthur Waldo

John Meillon

The Mayor

Melissa Jaffer

Beth

Kevin Miles

Dr. Midland

Bruce Spence

Charlie
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The Cars That Ate Paris

The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) View more photos

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