4. Maximum Overdrive (1986) — The Machines
What happens when every machine on Earth suddenly becomes homicidal?
Apparently, Stephen King thought the answer was:
"Let's find out."
Based on King's short story Trucks, Maximum Overdrive is one of the strangest examples of evil technology ever put on film.
Machines suddenly become hostile.
Trucks chase people.
Vending machines attack.
Lawnmowers become dangerous.
And somewhere in the middle of it all is an absolutely enormous Green Goblin truck.
The movie is deliberately over-the-top, but beneath the insanity is a wonderfully simple horror premise:
We have built a world where we are completely dependent on machines.
Remove human control from those machines and suddenly civilization becomes a very dangerous place.
Imagine waking up tomorrow and discovering that your car wants you dead.
Now imagine the same thing happening with every car.
And every truck.
And every vending machine.
Maybe walking everywhere isn't such a bad idea after all.
