What happened at the end? It was daylight, the two couples had just taken a construction detour, I turned my head for less than a minute and the next thing I see is an RV surrounded by a flaming circle and the credits were rolling.
What did I miss?
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Yes, we're left to infer that they all died. While I wanted a more "meaty" ending, something more concrete, I have to appreciate that it was left to the viewer to conclude what happened.
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It probably would've made it a bit more final if the satanists had disabled the engine somehow and rendered them incapable of driving away. As it was, I remember thinking that they could probably just drive over that little flame circle. I guess it was meant to be one of those 70s type shocker "leave the ending open" types of deals even though we know the filmakers were probably leaning more in the "they didn't get away" type of direction.
shareCapital "S' in "Satanists" needed in "Jimmy19020" question.
shareI believe those would be Easy Rider and Dirty Mary Crazy Larry.
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"I absolutely love that ending; it's one of those quintessentially 70's bummer nihilistic conclusions that were very popular at the time. "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry," "Vanishing Point," and "The Deathmaster" are three more nifty 70's drive-in pics with excellent depressing endings"
Although it isn't depressing don't forget the Italian Job, that had me on the edge of my seat!
Notice that Peter Fonda tends to abruptly die in a motor vehicle at the end of his three greatest movies? Now, it's up to you to decide what these (3) are.\
Chronologically, Easy Rider, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry & Race with the Devil
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The critics at the time were saying the movie was so bad and unrealistic that the director didn't know how too end the movie. Like they just were running out of money to film more so they just stopped and left it like it is.
Seemingly though, as shown in the movie, all the citizens across Texas are satinists. That's probably true. <gag me w/a spoon>
"Satanists" needs to be spelled as is, not "satinists" (uppercase in names).
shareI think the ending is just right. I first saw this film late at night on (UK) TV years ago when I was a kid. I thought it was really frightening and the ending such a shock after hoping they'd made it and got away. Recently we were planning a road trip in the US and considered hiring a RV. All the time I kept thinking "Race With The Devil, Race With The Devil...". We didn't get one in the end. Probably the doom laden ending of another fave film "The Osterman Weekend" didn't help. **** another spoiler **** The RV in that blew up with everyone in it. Good old Peckinpah.
shareI just saw the film again (rented from Lovefilm) the other night. Just like seeing an old friend again. Peter Fonda's last line: "I'm going to make us the driest Martinis ever" set's up the ending perfectly.
Yeah, maybe they could have finally found the Amarillo police dept. and they were Satanists too. It seems a little stange that after all they had been through, they would pull off the highway and park for the night in a secluded, dark area. And how did the Satanists know they would be there??? And immediately light a fire around the RV? Rough ending to an otherwise great intense fun B-movie.
shareThey are Satanists....what do you expect? They have powers. I saw this film in the theatre with my sister when I was teen. The ending gave me nightmares....I'd roll around in bed wondering what happened to them? It was perfect. Today they would have all had cell phones.
The best thing about the film is that Angelique from Dark Shadows was in it.
1. Half the front end of the trailer is missing. The radiator fan is rattling.
2. "You got a busted headlight on that thing." -- gas station attendant (dir. Jack Starrett)
3. "Let me pull over while there is still enough light for me to see what I'm doing." -- Fonda
4. The spot where they parked is utterly dark and secluded.
5. Without working headlights they're not going anywhere.
4. The satanists led them to the death spot through yet another phony detour operated by the Amarillo Dept of Public Works.
5. Employees of the Amaillo Dept of Public Works are satanists.
6. All Texans are satanists.
7. This includes everyone in Amarillo.
8. And every other city, even the big ones.
9. And everyone reading this.
10. That means you.
11. And your dog.
I absolutely love that ending; it's one of those quintessentially 70's bummer nihilistic conclusions that were very popular at the time. "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry," "Vanishing Point," and "The Deathmaster" are three more nifty 70's drive-in pics with excellent depressing endings.
"Warren Oates died for our sins"
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This seems an obvious answer but.... they plainly din't get away and were killed by the satanists, probably in a pointlessly bloody ritual. Think about it, they gave ALL their personal details to the first sheriff! It would make no difference how far they got, even if they got to Amarillo, (does anyone know the way?), because the satanists know where they live, work, play, everything. Well, it seems obvious to me.
"Where do I go to now I've gone too far?"
Funny, I never thought "Why didn't they just drive away?" Even with the busted headlights, I'm sure they could've recklessly driven a few feet before hitting a tree. But all we see is Oates and Fonda in strobe shots looking panicked. I would assume they were quickly overpowered anyway as the cultists broke into the RV to slice n' dice them.
share"even if they got to Amarillo, (does anyone know the way?)"
It's actually over 500 miles from San Antonio (which is at the edge of the Texas Hill Country, where it was filmed) to Amarillo. In reality, you could get there on good, well-traveled roads (I-10/U.S. 87 north to Kerrville; then staying on U.S. 87 to Lubbock, where it becomes I-27/U.S. 87 north Amarillo).
I've never driven it, but I know that's how you'd normally get from that part of Texas to Amarillo. You'd also pass through decent-sized towns like Kerrville, San Angelo, Big Spring, Lubbock and Plainview on the way. And there are no rolling, wooded hills in the Amarillo area (except maybe in the bottom of the nearby Palo Duro Canyon).
But, I guess the point of going in the R.V. is to stay off the beaten path.
You didn't miss anything. I saw this movie only once but I remember that the movie did end right there. It's important to remember that during this time, a lot of these made-for-TV movies were avoiding the 'good guys always win' scenario. Think about it. The country had gone through the Kennedy and King assassinations, not to mention Watergate, and people had grown very cynical and pessimistic about everything. I recall watching a '60 Minutes' show on the state of religion during the early or mid-70's. Mike Wallace's voiceover specifically pointed out that while belief in God seemed to be on the wane, belief in the devil was on the rise. I think the success of movies like 'Rosemary's Baby' started the trend towards the whole Satanic/black witch conspiracy genre.
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