Review of Vanishing Point (1971) by Adam K — 27 May 2014

For a film whose entire premise is the fact that some driver on drugs has been given a bet to drive a car across a couple of US states it's surprisingly entertaining. And whilst the background of the main anti-hero Kowalski screams cliche and a lack of belonging in a world that just doesn't get him, you know, the film's director pulls off a surprisingly impressive portrayal and leaves you rooting for the guy to complete his futile drive, which is, in a way what the whole film is about.

Let's be honest here, 'Vanishing Point', despite its existential consideration of life and the injustice of the world, is not a masterpiece. But it does convey the various themes its set out to convey well, despite some dodgy flashbacks and acting from Barry Newman who carries the whole thing. Kowalski's odd encounters with random strangers as he drives along slowly gains him the status of an anti-establishment hero and the support of the public and the really over the top but genuinely cool DJ, who helps him out.

It's a difficult way of telling the audience what the film is about but that's part of the point. As Kowalski searches for a message or purpose to his existence he realises there isn't one. Then comes his existential fuel for the film's 90 minute long car chase as his pursuit from the police becomes the meaning his life lacked.

Yet regardless of the thematic bulk of the film the real enjoyment is gained from watching Kowalski drive his car, usually with police hot on his tail. I'm not much of a car person but I can understand the appeal of a Dodge Challenger. Although the film screams late 60s early 70s American counter-culture it draws parallels with earlier 1950s films about outlaws in the American west. Newman plays this modern day hero well, a nihilist for much of the time he is onscreen, alienated from a mainstream society which is closing in on him.

The cinematography and images of the beautiful barren desert are striking and the music which accompanies the hero as he attempts to fulfil his mission is excellent. If it wasn't for these things the film would, I fear, be a tad boring. There's only so many times a man looking directly ahead at a road from within a car can be found interesting and despite a provision of interesting characters, snake catcher, hippies, gay stickup men and naked women on motorbikes, it's the car chase which makes the film what it is.

It's far from perfect but 'Vanishing Point' is a nice little cult piece from the 1970s which deserves far more attention that it gets. It avoids stuffing the theme and meaning down the audience's collective throats whilst setting up an excellent series of car chase set pieces and delivering a film, which despite its numerous flaws, is very entertaining.