ROLLERCOASTER

Recycling the "Sensurround" gimmick that had worked wonders on EARTHQUAKE's box-office takings, ROLLERCOASTER sadly failed to hit the heights of its predecessors in terms of reviews, awards and takings but now stands as a fascinating, magnificent and beautifully-shot time-capsule of the USA in the grip of Bicentennial fever.

The climax duly takes place on the fourth of July, 1976 — the nation's 200th birthday — and focuses on the opening of a theme-park mega-ride named The American Revolution. But of course, there's a mad bomber lurking in the crowd intent on spoiling everybody's fun — which includes a live performance by the country's hottest new band (the filmmakers wanted Kiss but had to settle for a rather more unlikely alternative...).

Given the storyline, in which the sociopathic bomber targets giant theme-parks across the country, it seems astonishing that real locations were used each time. Presumably the rides' owners were duped into thinking this was going to be a high-toned enterprise thanks to the presence of Henry Fonda and Richard Widmark in the cast-list (also spot future Oscar winner Helen Hunt in her teenage big-screen debut.)

Nope, ROLLERCOASTER is all about adrenaline. Check out the giddily vertiginous sequences where the camera is fastened to the front of the carriages — all the fun of the Prater at a fraction of the cost... and the risk!