09 Jul Maxium Overdrive

Maximum Overdrive

Stephen King is among the legendary writers of various films. His work has received recognition from the audience and agencies, even though most of them are horror movies.  Maximum Overdrive is one of the films scripted by Stephen and is full of unpredictable scenes that create a suspension for the viewer. Suspension creates enjoyment as the viewer puts reality and logicality away. 

First, film devices and techniques in the scene where the trucks start the engine by themselves help support suspension. In normal circumstances, the trucks of automobiles are manned and driven by human beings. Thus, it is against logicality and reality when a truck or any vehicle starts the engine unmanly. Through medium shot, one can clearly see the amazement that people in the area had when they experienced the scene (Adorama). Nevertheless, this scene creates enjoyment as one speculates what will happen next after their episodic scene. 

Next, the film devices and techniques in the scene where the trucks start to destroy the petrol station and the facilities in the area help support the theme of suspension. At first, one could have assumed that after starting the engine, the trucks would be stationary. However, like an aggressive person, the trucks proceed to destroy the petrol station and the facilities in the area. Through the extreme long shot, one can easily see the fuel station and how it was being demolished by the trucks (Adorama). In this case, the writer used personification to build the theme of suspension by giving the trucks life, emotions, and intelligence. 

Lastly, the film devices and techniques in the scene where the machine guns arrive with their carrier unmanly help support the theme of suspension. The close shot makes one view and acknowledge that indeed it was a weapon, while the bird’s eye shot was used to show that the dozer and the machine gun were not manned (Adorama). In the normal setting, the vicinity of weapons creates a sense of war. Unlike before when one saw the trucks hitting the structures in the area, the presence of machine guns means there may cases of death due to the revolved shooting that may start if the machine gun is provoked.  

In conclusion, the suspension seems to replace reality and logicality with a sense of enjoyment where the viewer waist to see the events as they unfold. Through devices and techniques such as personification, camera angle, and camera movements, Stephen King has been able to create suspension where the viewer cannot easily predict what will happen next.

Works Cited

Adorama. 14 Basic Cinematography Techniques for Better Cinematic Shots. 16 March 2018. Retrieved from 

Senoro. Maximum Overdrive – Truck Scenes [HD]. 9 February 2015. Retrieved from