MovieChat Forums > Race with the Devil (1975) Discussion > What Happened After the Ring Of Fire?

What Happened After the Ring Of Fire?

posted 16 years ago by skjoseph
44 replies | jump to latest

What do you think? Did our heroes live or die...and how?

I say they lived. Frank and Roger's past competent behavior gives me hope. :) Also, if unrealistic stunts occurred more than once in this film, why can't they happen again??

[–] shmucking 8 years ago

I've wondered this myself. Some great answers on this thread. Personally, I think that they were pretty much worn out by that time, and ready to give up. Even if they got away, the power of the followers would have caught up with them eventually, and they would be harassed and hassled for the rest of their lives. Maybe even converted to the Satanists group.

[–] ElectricWarlock 8 years ago

Even if they got away, the power of the followers would have caught up with them eventually, and they would be harassed and hassled for the rest of their lives.

Yes, I wonder just how big the cult actually was. Was it just in that one small town? Maybe statewide? Nationwide? Maybe it even had members hidden all over the world similar to the Illuminati. One of the most interesting things about this film is that it was very realistic. Many other horror movies with similar subject matter would've shown Satan or whatever entity they worshiped. At least an example of its existence. But this film just showed the cult, its members, and that's all. If the filmmakers did decide to go that route, perhaps the cult members could've summoned a paranormal entity to go after the two couples or place a curse on them. That way escape wouldn't have done much good anyways.

I never thought of the two couples being forced to join. That would be very interesting, too. There are so many possibilities.

[–] crypt_of_lovecraft 8 years ago

One of the most interesting things about this film is that it was very realistic. Many other horror movies with similar subject matter would've shown Satan or whatever entity they worshiped. At least an example of its existence

And that's one of the reasons this film is so effective: the fact that the entity probably doesn't really exist but that there are enough dangerous and gullible people out there willing to believe in "it" and kill for "it". Superstitions, irrational beliefs and collective ignorance can often be far scarier than the mythical gods and demons being worshiped.

A film like Children of the Corn failed miserably because the filmmakers decided to show the entity being worshiped at the end of the film and it was anything but scary. It would've been a far more effective horror film if the entity that the kids worshiped only existed in their imaginations or at least remained unseen.

Stein/Baraka 2016

[–] shmucking 8 years ago

That's a great point. Any kind of representation would almost inevitably be cheesy. One thing I like about the ending of Race With The Devil is that when the followers start chanting and a ring of fire suddenly appears around the van, that is kind of supernatural in a way. How could the fire suddenly appear like that? But it's vague enough to keep you guessing. One of the more effective, creepy and memorable images to end a movie with.

[–] macken74 (617) 7 years ago

That's the beauty of the ending to this great little creepy flick ... Its entirely up to the viewers imagination to decide what happened next ! ... some might say they were all eventually killed ... others might say they started up the RV and somehow made it out of there alive ! .... Each theory is possible ! .... Brilliant film tho , sure dont them like that anymore :(

[–] Garibaldi (36) 6 years ago

It was the end of the movie.