After literally blasting out of the gates of hell behind the wheel of a ’64 Buick Riviera, a one-time mortal bad guy, Milton (Nicolas Cage), is back in the real world and on a mission. While languishing in the fire pits at Satan’s pleasure, he learnt of his estranged daughter’s murder at the hands of local devil-worshipper and general nutjob, Jonah King (Billy Burke), and now has only 24 hours to save his granddaughter from being sacrificed by King during a full-moon ritual.

First published in the January 2025 issue of Street Machine

Packing a steaming case of weaponry and (ironically) a devil-may-care attitude, Milton chances upon a suitable hell-spec chariot in the form of a black ’69 Dodge Charger owned by local waitress and tough-girl, Piper (Amber Heard), who’s down on her luck and trying to manage demons of her own.

After Milton saves Piper from the fists of her dero boyfriend, Frank (Todd Farmer), the unlikely duo hit the road, hot on the trail of King and his wack-job posse. However, Devil’s advocate and general fixer, The Accountant (William Fichtner), is hot on Milton’s trail and under instructions to return him downstairs in no uncertain terms.

What ensues is plenty of gratuitous violence and bloodshed, intermingled with lots of stunt action and fireballs, and all accompanied by the usual Cage-spec, dry-humoured dialogue, nicely matched by that of The Accountant.

After the Dodge finally cries ‘enough’, Milton and Piper are rescued by Milton’s old top-side mate, Webster (David Morse), who saddles the pair up in a big-block Chevelle for the big final showdown.

VERDICT: 3/5

While it’s solidly B-grade fare, Drive Angry knows exactly what it is and wisely doesn’t aim any higher, so as long as you take it on its own schlocky, over-the-top terms, you’re likely to have fun with it. The car action takes a while to formulate but comes on strong for the finale, and the muscle car references throughout once again cement these cars as the ultimate bad-guy rides. Be warned though that there’s plenty of violence and bare boobies, so maybe wait until the young ’uns are safely tucked in bed before giving it a run.

VEHICLES:

• 1969 Dodge Charger
• 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle
• 1963 Buick Riviera
• 1988 Lincoln Mark VII
• 1989 Ford Econoline
• 1980 Chevrolet Chevy Van
• 1979 Chevrolet C70
• 1982 Ford F-Series
• 2000 Ford Crown Victoria
• 1957 Chevrolet 150

STARS:

• Nicolas Cage
• Amber Heard
• William Fichtner
• Billy Burke
• Todd Farmer
• David Morse
• Katy Mixon
• Charlotte Ross
• Christa Campbell
• Tom Atkins

DIRECTOR:
Patrick Lussier

ACTION:
Jumps, rollovers and demo-derby style chases nearly all end in crazy fireballs, neatly tying in with the film’s hell-based plot.

PLOT:
A hell-dwelling bad guy escapes back to Earth to both avenge the death of his daughter and save his granddaughter from the clutches of a Satan-worshipping psychopath.

AVAILABLE:
Blu-ray, DVD, streaming.

COOL FLICK FACT:

One of the Buick Rivieras used in the opening stunt sequence (pictured above) later featured in the first episode of Fast N’ Loud, where it was repaired and flipped by Gas Monkey Garage, bullet holes and all.