5 of the most iconic horror films in which the real star was the car

Delve into a world of creepy Cadillacs and devilish drivers this spooky season

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the season of spine-tingling cinema is upon us.

As Halloween creeps ever closer, your Netflix feed is likely filled with tales of the eerie and unexpected. Jump-a-minute fright-fests, gory bloodbaths, and - let’s be honest – some utterly bonkers concepts that shouldn’t work, but somehow do.

Then there’s the genuinely laughable ones (we’re looking at you, 1988 clanger Slugs – a must-watch if gastropods with human dentures are your thing).

Here’s the thing about great horror films: they tap into our collective subconscious and exploit the biggest fears of their era.

The economic uncertainty of the 1970s spawned movies that demonised anyone straying from traditional family values. The rapid tech advances of the 1980s-2000s gave us films about haunted tech.

Smart stuff, really.

While your average Hyundai might not automatically spring to mind as a terrifying subject matter, and murderous Mercedes-Benz models are thankfully few and far between, some of the most iconic horror films have cars at their twisted hearts.

You can probably count films about possessed cars on one hand, but that doesn’t mean the humble Audi isn’t just as pivotal to the plot as the villain themselves.

Bold claim? Absolutely.

But we stand by it.

From obvious choices to slightly more left-field picks, here are our top five films where the car steals the show.

If nothing else, you’ll have some cracking film suggestions for those dark nights ahead.

Just don’t watch alone…

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The star: 1972 Ford Club Wagon

If ever a film could prove there’s no such thing as bad publicity, this is it.

Banned in several countries for extreme violence, Tobe Hooper’s debut quickly secured cult status and became one of the most influential horror films ever made – spawning countless slashers in its wake.

The plot follows Sally Hardesty and her companions on an ill-fated Texas road trip, where they encounter maniacal hitchhikers and locals with distinctly cannibalistic tendencies.

Most of the group meet gruesome ends, leaving Sally to face the infamous Leatherface in a final showdown.

Their trusty green Ford Club Wagon – a second-gen camper with seating for 12, houndstooth seats, and a thoroughly modern AM/FM radio – becomes both their ticket to adventure and gateway to doom.

The van symbolises everything mainstream society feared: free love, rejection of traditional values, and alternative lifestyles.

In an era of social turmoil and waning trust in long-standing institutions, it represents the dangerous allure of breaking the mould. And when the innocent Sally finally escapes, she does so in a wholesome Chevrolet C10 pickup – the masculine, reliable truck happening to pass just when needed.

Horror highlight: The van literally transports our protagonists from safety into the jaws of certain death.

The moral? If you’re ever surrounded by chainsaw-wielding cannibals in the deep south, make sure you’ve got a speedy getaway car to hand.

Halloween (1978)

The star: 1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Arguably one of cinema’s most iconic villains, Michael Myers is the silent but deadly serial killer with a serious grudge against his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois.

After escaping from the asylum where he’d been detained since brutally murdering his sister, Myers proceeds to pick off unsuspecting teenagers on All Hallows’ Eve.

His trusty Monte Carlo might not get top billing, but it deserves equal recognition.

The car first appears ominously cruising past Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie, and her friends, as they walk home from school. Laurie seems genuinely spooked by the vehicle – and the audience knows why.

Its most memorable moment comes when babysitter Annie Brackett attempts to sneak away from her charges to meet her boyfriend.

As she slips into the driver’s seat, she notices the windows are inexplicably steamed up, as though someone else had been breathing inside. Cue Myers, a sharp knife, copious amounts of blood, and poor Annie’s rather permanent exit from the film.

(If only she’d had the Volvo S80’s ability to sense a heartbeat inside the car via the key fob, alerting her to the presence of Myers before she got in.)

The Chevy becomes a bridge between two worlds: Annie’s normal life and the afterlife that awaits. More broadly, it represents the transition from ‘old’ America to the unknown future many feared the country was sliding toward.

The fact that the murder happens inside the vehicle suggests that decline is literally one step closer to home.

Horror highlight: One of cinema’s most memorable car-based murder scenes that’ll make you think twice about fogged-up windows.

Myers might wear the mask, but without that Chevy, this iconic death scene wouldn’t exist.

Christine (1983)

The star: 1958 Plymouth Fury

Probably the most famous film car of all time, the red 1958 Plymouth Fury lovingly called Christine showcases Stephen King’s flawless ability to take everyday objects and make them utterly terrifying.

Combined with John Carpenter’s meticulous direction, this isn’t just a film about a car – it’s a genuinely frightening movie.

You don’t need to attend film school to understand Christine’s significance. She’s the protagonist, after all. But it’s the personification that’s crucial. Unlike previous entries where the cars symbolise transition, Christine is given genuine personality.

She becomes an unlikely anti-hero, championing underdog Arnie Cunningham and transforming him from school nerd to cocky, confident greaser.

Male mental health and social isolation are key themes in many of King’s works, and Christine is no different. Arnie is socially awkward and relentlessly bullied, desperately seeking something to elevate him from his miserable situation.

Christine becomes that force – and ultimately his avenger.

The car is given distinctively ‘human’ traits: possessiveness, jealousy, and serious vitriol toward anyone threatening her relationship with Arnie.

What unfolds is a twisted tale of first love involving obsession, dire consequences, and the corruption of an essentially decent young man. The film taps into 1980s anxieties about family breakdown, technological advances, and the crumbling American Dream.

All channelled through one very protective Plymouth.

Horror highlight: A car with genuine personality and murderous intentions.

Christine makes you question whether your own motor might be harbouring dark thoughts about that person who keeps parking too close.

Ghostbusters (1984)

The star: 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor (Ecto-1)

Before you question Ghostbusters’ horror credentials, try showing a five-year-old that opening library scene. We’ll wait.

Ghostbusters saw vehicles take an interesting new direction in supernatural films, becoming an overt force for good. Part ambulance, part hearse, and so famous it has its own Wikipedia page, the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Futura Duplex (or Ecto-1 to its friends) stands at an impressive 21ft long, 8ft high, and 7ft wide.

It comes fully equipped with everything the ‘busters need to tackle Zuul and his minions without breaking a sweat.

Aesthetically similar to an emergency vehicle, the design perfectly captures early-80s pessimism – society really did feel like it was breaking, and only the underdogs seemed qualified to save us.

The car’s consistent presence across every single Ghostbusters film, even while characters change and storylines evolve, proves its iconic status.

Dan Aykroyd originally wanted the Ectomobile painted black with white and purple strobe lights. However, since much of the movie takes place at night, cinematographers worried it wouldn’t show up properly on screen.

Which raises an interesting question: would the car be such an integral part of the franchise’s brand identity if it looked different?

The Ecto-1 represents hope in a world literally under supernatural attack, proving that sometimes the right vehicle really can save the day.

Horror highlight: The most consistent anchor across an entire franchise, appearing in every single film to date. While characters come and go, the car remains – that’s true star power.

The Hitcher (1986)

The star: 1977 Cadillac Seville

Cash-strapped college student Jim Halsey thinks he’s found the perfect solution to his money troubles: drive a pristine 1977 Cadillac Seville from its vendor in Illinois all the way to its new owner in California.

What could possibly go wrong?

Never ask that question when you’re watching a horror movie.

Enter John Ryder, a soft-spoken hitchhiker with murderous tendencies who turns what should have been a simple cross-country drive into a living nightmare.

As the film plays out, Halsey witnesses Ryder’s roadside killing spree and becomes increasingly plagued by his tormentor. While Ryder inflicts both mental torture and physical harm on Jim, he keeps him alive, eventually placing him in the position of unwitting accomplice.

When asked why, Ryder’s chilling response is simply, “You’re a smart kid. Figure it out.”

The film brilliantly challenges the notion that the open road represents freedom by transforming it into an endless prison for Jim.

Horror highlight: The road trip from absolute hell, where cars become monuments to violence and the promise of freedom turns into the ultimate trap.

The verdict

Your average run-around might not seem like obvious horror material, but these films prove that cars can be just as creepy as any traditional ghoul.

Think about it. We trust our vehicles completely.

We happily climb inside metal boxes hurtling along at 70mph, trusting brakes, steering and countless mechanical components to keep us safe. Horror films exploit that vulnerability brilliantly, turning our faithful companions into potential threats.

So, this Halloween, buckle up, settle down, and get watching.

Just remember to check your rear-view mirror next time you’re out for a drive – and maybe think twice about picking up hitchhikers.