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Maximum Overdrive

 Maximum Overdrive
type
TVTItem
 Maximum Overdrive
label
Maximum Overdrive
 Maximum Overdrive
page
MaximumOverdrive
 Maximum Overdrive
comment
Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 horror film written and directed by Stephen King, based on his short story "Trucks" from the Night Shift collection (other stories from which were adapted into Cat's Eye, which was also produced by Dino De Laurentiis). The same short story was later adapted into a Made-for-TV Movie in 1997.The movie centers around people trapped in the Dixie Boy truck stop outside Wilmington, North Carolina, surrounded by homicidal trucks and other machines which have become animate and dangerous from radiation produced by a comet close to earth. The cast includes Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, Frankie Faison, Leon Rippy, and Yeardley Smith.King later admitted that he was coked out of his mind while making this film. This explains a lot.
 Maximum Overdrive
fetched
2024-03-19T21:46:58Z
 Maximum Overdrive
parsed
2024-03-19T21:46:58Z
 Maximum Overdrive
processingComment
Dropped link to ACDC: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Maximum Overdrive
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Dropped link to ApocalypseNow: Not a Feature - ITEM
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Dropped link to WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner: Not a Feature - ITEM
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Dropped link to spiderman: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Maximum Overdrive
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1049848f
type
Aliens Speaking English
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1049848f
comment
How do the aliens know Morse Code, what an "asshole" is, or even "fuck you"?
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1049848f
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1.0
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Maximum Overdrive / int_1049848f
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1237828f
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Anyone Can Die
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1237828f
comment
Anyone Can Die: Dozens are killed as early as the first few minutes, among which is Duncan, Deke's father and one of the truck stop employees. Midway there's Camp Loman, the hypocritical fundamentalist bible salesman Brett hitched on, and at the climax Wanda, Bubba and a few others bite the dust, too.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_1237828f
 Maximum Overdrive / int_127fc252
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Creator Cameo
 Maximum Overdrive / int_127fc252
comment
In the beginning, there is a scene where a cameoing Stephen King gets called an asshole by an ATM.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_127fc252
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1305f045
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Vanity License Plate
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1305f045
comment
Vanity License Plate: The license plate on Hendershot's car reads "BUBBA", after his first name.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_1305f045
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1713b00a
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Your Head A-Splode
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1713b00a
comment
Your Head Asplode: This happened to the steamroller victim, but it was cut. Rumor says that George A. Romero—no stranger to screen gore himself—actually threw up at this scene when invited to a test screening.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_1713b00a
 Maximum Overdrive / int_18d15922
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Title Drop
 Maximum Overdrive / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: Brett tells Bill that she was hitchhiking to Florida "before every machine in the world went into maximum overdrive".
 Maximum Overdrive / int_18d15922
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Maximum Overdrive / int_18d15922
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1b65dfad
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The Cameo
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1b65dfad
comment
The Cameo: Bandmembers of AC/DC appear briefly on a speedboat in the bridge scene. Stephen King appears briefly as the man using the ATM in the opening.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_1b65dfad
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1b7d59b6
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Death by Materialism
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1b7d59b6
comment
Death by Materialism: When the truck stop's arcade room starts going crazy, a guy in there starts collecting all the coins the machines spit out. Staying there, he gives an opportunity to one of the cabinets to hypnotize and electrocute him. Brad leaves behind the rest of the cast to take a ring from a corpse, and is then flattened by the Happy Toyz truck.
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 Maximum Overdrive / int_1dfd19f9
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Papa Wolf
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1dfd19f9
comment
Papa Wolf: Duncan Keller. Once it's become apparent machines have turned on man, he immediately tries to get to his car to leave, despite being barely able to see and his co-workers attempting to stop him, to look for his son. He states he's GOTTA find his boy to make sure he's okay. Hendershot threatens to fire him if he leaves while on the clock, which Duncan brushes off and call him a "fat fuck" which results in him almost getting clobbered.
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 Maximum Overdrive / int_1f9bddfb
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Plug 'n' Play Technology
 Maximum Overdrive / int_1f9bddfb
comment
Plug 'n' Play Technology: Kind of a weird partial example. There's no actual interfacing of differing technologies per se, but the weird alien radiation which animates the Earth's gadgets does endow those gadgets with some unexpected abilities — such as the ability to see/sense humans, or to move independently even with no built-in means of locomotion. In the short story, at least, the animate trucks were entirely supernatural.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_1f9bddfb
 Maximum Overdrive / int_23473ae7
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Adaptation Expansion
 Maximum Overdrive / int_23473ae7
comment
Adaptation Expansion: The original story only focused on the rest stop and the people within as the vehicles all of a sudden attacked and it ended on the scene where the people of the rest stop are forced to load gasoline onto the vehicles (and the narrator hits the Despair Event Horizon because he believes that now the machines will enslave humanity and force it to keep them running until it dies off). In contrast, the movie shows more places being attacked and then has the survivors attempting to escape from the rest stop and succeed.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_23473ae7
 Maximum Overdrive / int_267ce120
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Dirty Old Man
 Maximum Overdrive / int_267ce120
comment
Dirty Old Man: Hendershot and the Bible salesman are both the oldest members of the cast and are both crude and libidinous. The Bible salesman even tries to seduce a woman in the truck stop by pitching her to buy the Bible and caresses the thigh of Brett (who was hitchhiking with him until they heard the radio warning to get off the roads) until Brett tells him that unless he wants to lose the hand, he is going to stop touching her right the hell now.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_267ce120
 Maximum Overdrive / int_269e82c1
type
Death of a Child
 Maximum Overdrive / int_269e82c1
comment
Death of a Child: The attacks by the vending machine and the steamroller caused some child deaths. Averted for Deke.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_269e82c1
 Maximum Overdrive / int_2b706ca
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More Dakka
 Maximum Overdrive / int_2b706ca
comment
More Dakka: Hendershot's gun collection in the truck stop's basement at one point serves this purpose for the protagonists, giving them a chance blow up some of the vehicles. At one point, the trucks call an armed military vehicle for assistance when they need to coerce the cast to give them gas.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_2b706ca
 Maximum Overdrive / int_2f8a9975
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Sex Dressed
 Maximum Overdrive / int_2f8a9975
comment
Sex Dressed: When the bulldozer and army vehicle arrive, Bubba and Wanda come rushing out of a room with him buckling up his pants and her zipping up her shirt.
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Stuff Blowing Up
 Maximum Overdrive / int_31a2a33c
comment
Stuff Blowing Up: When the vehicles eventually drive into the truck stop, everything starts to blow up spectacularly. Justified as one of the trucks that smashes into the Dixie Boy is hauling a load of liquid oxygen, which is quite combustible.
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 Maximum Overdrive / int_32976084
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Destination Defenestration
 Maximum Overdrive / int_32976084
comment
Destination Defenestration: During the bridge scene, one poor sod is shown flying through a windshield. And into another car through its window.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_32976084
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Agony of the Feet
 Maximum Overdrive / int_37d94ed9
comment
Agony of the Feet: An animated electric knife attacks Wanda June and cuts into her foot.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_37d94ed9
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Maximum Overdrive / int_37d94ed9
 Maximum Overdrive / int_38d09db
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Homicide Machines
 Maximum Overdrive / int_38d09db
comment
Homicide Machines: The vending machine scene is one of the most memorable instances of this. But there's also the meat slicer and the lawnmower and certain other appliances besides.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_38d09db
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Maximum Overdrive / int_38d09db
 Maximum Overdrive / int_3a90dc63
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Aliens Are Bastards
 Maximum Overdrive / int_3a90dc63
comment
Aliens Are Bastards: The aliens take control of vehicles and other machinery and make them attack humans for seemingly no reason.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_3a90dc63
 Maximum Overdrive / int_3bf7904f
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Vengeful Vending Machine
 Maximum Overdrive / int_3bf7904f
comment
Vengeful Vending Machine: A man is struck twice in the nuts and then on the forehead by soda cans that shoot violently out of a vending machine. It's unclear, but likely, that he dies from the second blow. Shortly after, various kids are struck by the cans and some of them die (or are knocked unconscious for the steamroller to finish off). In the beginning, there is a scene where a cameoing Stephen King gets called an asshole by an ATM.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_3bf7904f
 Maximum Overdrive / int_3ec7c277
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Every Car Is a Pinto
 Maximum Overdrive / int_3ec7c277
comment
Every Car Is a Pinto: When the truck that was chasing Connie and Curt drives off the road, it catches fire in mid-jump and explodes completely when it stops.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_3ec7c277
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Maximum Overdrive / int_3ec7c277
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Ungrateful Bastard
 Maximum Overdrive / int_3fe2b13f
comment
Ungrateful Bastard: Wanda certainly seems to think this of the trucks.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_3fe2b13f
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Would Hurt a Child
 Maximum Overdrive / int_479d4e5a
comment
Would Hurt a Child: A scene has various kids killed (by rapidly-thrown soda cans from a Vengeful Vending Machine and, most iconically, by a steamroller running over one) while they are playing baseball.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_479d4e5a
 Maximum Overdrive / int_49d18492
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Scenery Gorn
 Maximum Overdrive / int_49d18492
comment
Scenery Gorn: At one point, Deke slowly rides his bicycle through the streets of a neighborhood littered with bloody, butchered corpses. Even with the incongruous rock soundtrack, it's one of the more effective and properly disturbing parts of the film.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_49d18492
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Maximum Overdrive / int_49d18492
 Maximum Overdrive / int_4ad1816a
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Everyone Knows Morse
 Maximum Overdrive / int_4ad1816a
comment
Everyone Knows Morse: When the military vehicle starts honking its horn, Deke recognizes that it's using Morse Code.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_4ad1816a
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Maximum Overdrive / int_4ad1816a
 Maximum Overdrive / int_4c7e3b7
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Construction Vehicle Rampage
 Maximum Overdrive / int_4c7e3b7
comment
Construction Vehicle Rampage: After the coach and most of the team are killed by the vending machine, a road roller smashes down the backboard and crushes a kid. Then there's the bulldozer that turns up later and pushes Hendershot's car into the diner and later on crushes the newlyweds' car.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_4c7e3b7
 Maximum Overdrive / int_4eb5691c
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Squashed Flat
 Maximum Overdrive / int_4eb5691c
comment
Squashed Flat: One of the junior baseball players is flattened by a steamroller. A loader dozer also does this to the newlyweds' car.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_4eb5691c
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Maximum Overdrive / int_4eb5691c
 Maximum Overdrive / int_508d91a2
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Pre-Mortem One-Liner
 Maximum Overdrive / int_508d91a2
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Pre-Mortem One-Liner: Adios, motherfucker!
 Maximum Overdrive / int_508d91a2
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Maximum Overdrive / int_508d91a2
 Maximum Overdrive / int_51640e80
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Bond One-Liner
 Maximum Overdrive / int_51640e80
comment
Bond One-Liner: During Hendershot's Big Damn Heroes moment after blowing up the garbage truck pursuing Bill, Brett, Connie and Curt:
 Maximum Overdrive / int_51640e80
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Maximum Overdrive / int_51640e80
 Maximum Overdrive / int_540cdedc
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Robotic Undead
 Maximum Overdrive / int_540cdedc
comment
Robotic Undead: Trucks and other machines come to life after a mysterious comet passes overhead granting them not only autonomy but also intelligence and malevolence.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_540cdedc
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Maximum Overdrive / int_540cdedc
 Maximum Overdrive / int_54d0d331
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Marionette Master
 Maximum Overdrive / int_54d0d331
comment
Marionette Master: Stephen King on one of the posters◊ holds the cast on his strings.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_54d0d331
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Maximum Overdrive / int_54d0d331
 Maximum Overdrive / int_5663a595
type
Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole
 Maximum Overdrive / int_5663a595
comment
Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole: The attempt at Doing In the Wizard by having aliens being behind everything ends up raising more questions than it answers: How do they control the parts that aren't electronic? Why does their "Alien Ray" affect some vehicles but not others? Why would they care if the machines get gas? They could have easily just jumped to another vehicle or some machine that didn't require it. How do the aliens know Morse Code, what an "asshole" is, or even "fuck you"?
 Maximum Overdrive / int_5663a595
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Maximum Overdrive / int_5663a595
 Maximum Overdrive / int_5caef4ca
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Chainsaw Good
 Maximum Overdrive / int_5caef4ca
comment
Chainsaw Good: As Deke rides his bike through the suburbs, a man with a chainsaw stuck in his throat can be briefly seen.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_5caef4ca
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Maximum Overdrive / int_5caef4ca
 Maximum Overdrive / int_61a503a7
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Hell Is That Noise
 Maximum Overdrive / int_61a503a7
comment
Hell Is That Noise: The pneumatic starter of the tow truck at the gas station that Curt and Connie stop at.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_61a503a7
 Maximum Overdrive / int_71268450
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Adaptation Title Change
 Maximum Overdrive / int_71268450
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Adaptation Title Change: Maximum Overdrive is an adaptation of a short story called "Trucks".
 Maximum Overdrive / int_71268450
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Maximum Overdrive / int_71268450
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In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It
 Maximum Overdrive / int_73d4b01a
comment
In Case You Forgot Who Wrote It: As with the other Stephen King films. A special case here, as he also directed the movie and even appeared in its first trailer, rambling about how Only the Creator Does It Right and promising that he's "gonna scare the hell outta you." By his own later admission, a lot of this was the coke talking.
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 Maximum Overdrive / int_823c6e3e
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Large Ham
 Maximum Overdrive / int_823c6e3e
comment
Large Ham: Wanda June, as she gets crazier. "WE! MADE! YOU!!!"
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Maximum Overdrive / int_823c6e3e
 Maximum Overdrive / int_831164fe
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Signature Style
 Maximum Overdrive / int_831164fe
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Signature Style: Bill's "the comet is a broom" speech is typical King.
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Maximum Overdrive / int_831164fe
 Maximum Overdrive / int_89b8822f
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Go Mad from the Revelation
 Maximum Overdrive / int_89b8822f
comment
Go Mad from the Revelation: Wanda June. After a day that consists of getting her arm cut by the electric knife and watching the trucks take over the Dixie Boy; she finally snaps and falls under the delusion that because humans made machines, they should automatically listen to her out of principle. She tries to put this into play twice and it fails to work. The latter costing her her own life.
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Small-Town Tyrant
 Maximum Overdrive / int_89dcd4e
comment
Small-Town Tyrant: Bubba Hendershot runs a truck stop that mostly employs people on parole allowing him to force them to work more hours than he has to pay them for. If they refuse, then he can get his friend who is on the state patrol to arrest them and send them back to jail. Billy theorizes that Bubba also sells guns on the side when his gun cache is found.
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Asshole Victim
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Asshole Victim: The bible salesman and later Hendershot.
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 Maximum Overdrive / int_904530eb
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Recycled IN SPACE!
 Maximum Overdrive / int_904530eb
comment
Recycled In SPACE: Maximum Overdrive is George A. Romero's Zombie trilogy WITH TRUCKS!!
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Maximum Overdrive / int_904530eb
 Maximum Overdrive / int_91b55fe
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Pop-Star Composer
 Maximum Overdrive / int_91b55fe
comment
Pop-Star Composer: Aside from the occasional use of "Psycho" Strings (appropriately provided on electric guitar), the soundtrack is entirely made from AC/DC songs.
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 Maximum Overdrive / int_95b7c400
type
Faux Affably Evil
 Maximum Overdrive / int_95b7c400
comment
Faux Affably Evil: Bubba puts on a welcoming demeanor, but he's a Bad Boss to his employees and only teams up with the heroes because he can't make money with rampaging vehicles killing off potential customers.
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Recycled Trailer Music
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Recycled Trailer Music: The trailer uses "Chariots of Pumpkins" from Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
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Black Dude Dies First
 Maximum Overdrive / int_9788e2b1
comment
Black Dude Dies First: The first solo death scene belongs to the black customer (played by Giancarlo Esposito) in the arcade room.
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 Maximum Overdrive / int_9e0c3153
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Punctuated! For! Emphasis!
 Maximum Overdrive / int_9e0c3153
comment
Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: At one point, drunk Wanda freaks out and goes to outside to yell "WE! MADE! YOU!" at the circling vehicles.
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 Maximum Overdrive / int_a2b38d3b
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Eye Scream
 Maximum Overdrive / int_a2b38d3b
comment
Eye Scream: Duncan gets an eyeful of gasoline, and loses most of his eyesight.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_a2b38d3b
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_a2b38d3b
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_a2b38d3b
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ac33492
type
Destroy the Product Placement
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ac33492
comment
Destroy the Product Placement: A Semi-trailer prominently labelled with a Miller beer logo is blown up with a rocket in a wide shot giving you a full view of the ad before it explodes.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ac33492
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ac33492
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1.0
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Maximum Overdrive / int_ac33492
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ad1c3459
type
Big Badass Rig
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ad1c3459
comment
Big Badass Rig: Natural for a film with 18-wheelers, but special mention for the Happy Toyz truck.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ad1c3459
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1.0
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Maximum Overdrive / int_ad1c3459
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b2cdd776
type
Bottomless Magazines
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b2cdd776
comment
Bottomless Magazines: The M60 that arrives on the cart has a 100 round ammo box. The M60 fires 600 rounds per minute and hoses down the truck stop for 30 seconds. It would have been out of ammo and no threat after 10-12 seconds of sustained fire.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b2cdd776
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Maximum Overdrive / int_b2cdd776
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b3439bba
type
Attack of the Killer Whatever
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b3439bba
comment
Attack Of The Killer What Ever: Trucks, household appliances, you name it.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b3439bba
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b3439bba
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Maximum Overdrive / int_b3439bba
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b3de4c5b
type
Sex God
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b3de4c5b
comment
Sex God: Brett notes that Billy "sure makes love like a hero".
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b3de4c5b
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1.0
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Maximum Overdrive / int_b3de4c5b
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b58b4e3c
type
Too Dumb to Live
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b58b4e3c
comment
Too Dumb to Live: The guy who gets his truck stuck on the bridge after it goes up. When he realizes what's happening, rather than try to jump to either side of the bridge while he still has time, he tries to back up, plummeting into the water below. Camp Loman thinks he can outrun a big rig with just his two feet. He naturally gets creamed by the truck.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b58b4e3c
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b58b4e3c
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Maximum Overdrive / int_b58b4e3c
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b85c06f2
type
Glowing Eyes of Doom
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b85c06f2
comment
Glowing Eyes of Doom: The mask on the Happy Toyz truck has them, since its red pupils are aligned with the vehicle's headlights.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b85c06f2
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_b85c06f2
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_b85c06f2
 Maximum Overdrive / int_bb067aba
type
Cool Mask
 Maximum Overdrive / int_bb067aba
comment
Cool Mask: The Green Goblin mask on the Happy Toyz truck.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_bb067aba
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_bb067aba
featureConfidence
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_bb067aba
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c2d978fe
type
Car Fu
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c2d978fe
comment
Car Fu: This is the default attack of the vehicles that don't have weapons attached.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c2d978fe
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c2d978fe
featureConfidence
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_c2d978fe
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c515d358
type
America Saves the Day
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c515d358
comment
America Saves the Day: Inverted in the end. It is a Soviet "weather satellite" which destroys the UFO hiding in the comet causing all the trouble.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c515d358
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c515d358
featureConfidence
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
hasFeature
Maximum Overdrive / int_c515d358
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c5dcc180
type
How Many Fingers?
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c5dcc180
comment
How Many Fingers?: Said to Duncan after he got gasoline into his eyes.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c5dcc180
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c5dcc180
featureConfidence
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_c5dcc180
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: The Happy Toyz truck may look creepy, but it is really hard to take seriously a truck with the Green Goblin face. The predictable moment when Duncan looks inside the handle pump to check why it is not working is very evocative of Wile E. Coyote gags. The light aircraft flying recon for the trucks is playing "Flight of the Valkyries" on its radio.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c75df49a
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c75df49a
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_c75df49a
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c9597a03
type
Self-Deprecation
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c9597a03
comment
Self-Deprecation: Combined with Creator Cameo.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c9597a03
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_c9597a03
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_c9597a03
 Maximum Overdrive / int_caf89e54
type
Taking You with Me
 Maximum Overdrive / int_caf89e54
comment
Taking You with Me: The animated machines have absolutely no qualms about sacrificing themselves — or each other — if they can kill a human or two in the process.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_caf89e54
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_caf89e54
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Maximum Overdrive / int_caf89e54
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ce68d46b
type
Next Sunday A.D.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ce68d46b
comment
Next Sunday A.D.: Released in 1986, the film takes place during June 1987.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ce68d46b
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ce68d46b
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_ce68d46b
 Maximum Overdrive / int_d1673f5c
type
Bad Humor Truck
 Maximum Overdrive / int_d1673f5c
comment
Bad Humor Truck: One of the vehicles patrolling the suburbs is a blood-smeared ice cream truck.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_d1673f5c
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_d1673f5c
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_d1673f5c
 Maximum Overdrive / int_d355ba37
type
Turned Against Their Masters
 Maximum Overdrive / int_d355ba37
comment
Turned Against Their Masters: Lampshaded by Wanda ("We made you!").
 Maximum Overdrive / int_d355ba37
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_d355ba37
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_d355ba37
 Maximum Overdrive / int_db165dcf
type
Doomed Hurt Guy
 Maximum Overdrive / int_db165dcf
comment
Doomed Hurt Guy: Duncan Keller. He gets diesel sprayed into his eyes and is temporarily blinded. He attempts to leave while barely having any vision and drops his keys. His blindness results in him jot being able to see a sentient truck barreling towards him until it's too late to get out of the way. The Bible salesman. An entire sequence is dedicated to the characters trying to get to where he's lying injured and they fail. It only succeeds in wasting time.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_db165dcf
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_db165dcf
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_db165dcf
 Maximum Overdrive / int_dc579c91
type
Contrived Coincidence
 Maximum Overdrive / int_dc579c91
comment
Contrived Coincidence: The boy who just arrived knows Morse code.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_dc579c91
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_dc579c91
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_dc579c91
 Maximum Overdrive / int_dd6ce5db
type
Artistic License
 Maximum Overdrive / int_dd6ce5db
comment
Artistic License: There's a lack of consistency in exactly what machines can come to life. Some mechanical items should be "alive" but aren't (like cars and the mechanical parts of the arsenal of weapons), and some things that really shouldn't be alive are (the side-view mirror moving, the valve on the gas refill truck, the swivel for the small military car's machine gun). The most explanation provided for why this is the case is a radio station reporting that "some machines are waking up slower than others." The soda vending machine in this movie is shown shooting out cans of soda as projectiles at the Little League coach and then across the field at the kids. In real life, the machinery inside soda and snack machines is only capable of dropping products down into a chute, not shooting them at high velocity across a field. Even if a soda machine was to dispense all the sodas at once, it would only cause a pile-up and possible jam at the very worst.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_dd6ce5db
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_dd6ce5db
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_dd6ce5db
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e07d3d72
type
Uncle Tomfoolery
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e07d3d72
comment
Uncle Tomfoolery: When the arcade machines go nuts, the black man's response is "Yo mamma!" even though it doesn't make any sense. Basically the '80s equivalent of having a black person show up and say "You go girl" or "Oh no, you didn't!" just because the white filmmakers think it's funny.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e07d3d72
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e07d3d72
featureConfidence
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
hasFeature
Maximum Overdrive / int_e07d3d72
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e2a6ebc1
type
Closed Circle
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e2a6ebc1
comment
Closed Circle: The truck stop, since it is surrounded by murderous vehicles.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e2a6ebc1
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e2a6ebc1
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 Maximum Overdrive
hasFeature
Maximum Overdrive / int_e2a6ebc1
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e5b75009
type
"Psycho" Strings
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e5b75009
comment
"Psycho" Strings: Used a lot early on whenever a machine strikes, later used for some Jump Scare moments. Done with electric guitar. By AC/DC.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e5b75009
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e5b75009
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_e5b75009
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e906fcc0
type
1-Dimensional Thinking
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e906fcc0
comment
1-Dimensional Thinking: Camp Loman's response to be pursued by the Green Goblin truck is to simply run straight ahead instead of dodging to the left or right. Naturally, he gets run down by the truck and knocked into a ditch.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e906fcc0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_e906fcc0
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Maximum Overdrive / int_e906fcc0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_eaf5a1ac
type
Groin Attack
 Maximum Overdrive / int_eaf5a1ac
comment
A man is struck twice in the nuts and then on the forehead by soda cans that shoot violently out of a vending machine. It's unclear, but likely, that he dies from the second blow. Shortly after, various kids are struck by the cans and some of them die (or are knocked unconscious for the steamroller to finish off).
 Maximum Overdrive / int_eaf5a1ac
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_eaf5a1ac
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 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_eaf5a1ac
 Maximum Overdrive / int_eb81c601
type
Big Damn Heroes
 Maximum Overdrive / int_eb81c601
comment
Big Damn Heroes: Bubba shooting rockets at two 18-wheelers who try to run down Brett, Billy, Connie and Curt.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_eb81c601
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_eb81c601
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_eb81c601
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ec1ec2dc
type
Non-Protagonist Resolver
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ec1ec2dc
comment
Non-Protagonist Resolver: While the survivors on the gas station are able to escape to a location with no vehicles, the overall Alien Invasion was stopped off-screen by the Russians destroying the spacecraft with a Kill Sat.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ec1ec2dc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_ec1ec2dc
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_ec1ec2dc
 Maximum Overdrive / int_f360fc33
type
Dumbass Has a Point
 Maximum Overdrive / int_f360fc33
comment
Dumbass Has a Point: Connie might be constantly whining and screeching at the top of her lungs, but she has a point about Curtis stranding them with everyone else at the Dixie Boy does them more harm than good, getting their car (the only vehicle at that point in the movie that hadn't tried to kill anyone) destroyed.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_f360fc33
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_f360fc33
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 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_f360fc33
 Maximum Overdrive / int_f64a9cf7
type
Earn Your Happy Ending
 Maximum Overdrive / int_f64a9cf7
comment
Earn Your Happy Ending: In stark contrast to the original short story it was based on, the movie ends with Bill, Brett, Curtis, Connie, Deke, Handy (the driver of the Green Goblin truck) and a few others happily sailing off to the safety of an island, while the Soviets save the day by shooting down the UFO hiding near the comet that caused all the trouble.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_f64a9cf7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_f64a9cf7
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_f64a9cf7
 Maximum Overdrive / int_faf5732b
type
I Call It "Vera"
 Maximum Overdrive / int_faf5732b
comment
I Call It "Vera": Billy calls his straight razor "Mother's Helper".
 Maximum Overdrive / int_faf5732b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_faf5732b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Maximum Overdrive
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Maximum Overdrive / int_faf5732b
 Maximum Overdrive / int_fdf22cfd
type
Evil Is Hammy
 Maximum Overdrive / int_fdf22cfd
comment
Evil Is Hammy: While not necessarily evil, as the worst things we see him do are take advantage of employees who are on parole and bluntly tell a small boy his father was killed by a truck with no empathy at all, Bubba Hendershot is the film's human antagonist and Pat Hingle clearly had a ball playing the part as evidenced by his chewing of the scenery just about every time he shows up.
 Maximum Overdrive / int_fdf22cfd
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1.0
 Maximum Overdrive / int_fdf22cfd
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Maximum Overdrive / int_fdf22cfd
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ItemName
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Maximum Overdrive / int_name
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Maximum Overdrive

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Maximum Overdrive
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Adaptation Title Change / int_6fa53670
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Always Chaotic Evil / int_6fa53670
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Attack of the Killer Whatever / int_6fa53670
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Attract Mode / int_6fa53670
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Big Badass Rig / int_6fa53670
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Black Dude Dies First / int_6fa53670
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Censored Child Death / int_6fa53670
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Cool Mask / int_6fa53670
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Corrupt Hick / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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Crazy Is Cool / int_6fa53670
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Destroy the Product Placement / int_6fa53670
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Disowned Adaptation / int_6fa53670
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Every Car Is a Pinto / int_6fa53670
 FrothyPintOfMetal
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Maximum Overdrive
 Maximum Overdrive
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Greatest Hits Album / int_6fa53670
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Homicide Machines / int_6fa53670
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How Many Fingers? / int_6fa53670
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It Won't Turn Off / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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Jukebox Musical / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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Kill Sat / int_6fa53670
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Maximum Overdrive
 NightShift
seeAlso
Maximum Overdrive
 Maximum Overdrive
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1-Dimensional Thinking / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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"Psycho" Strings / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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Robotic Undead / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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Sci-Fi Horror / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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Sinister Car / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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Small-Town Tyrant / int_6fa53670
 Maximum Overdrive
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The Most Dangerous Video Game / int_6fa53670
 Transmorphers
seeAlso
Maximum Overdrive
 Trucks
seeAlso
Maximum Overdrive
 Maximum Overdrive
hasFeature
Vengeful Vending Machine / int_6fa53670