The Wraith
A mysterious motorcyclist and his invincible car bring supernatural justice to an Arizona gang that rules through deadly drag races.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- campy
- propulsive
- neon-lit
- 80s nostalgia night
- car movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a noisy, simplistic, and poorly written 1980s car-action fantasy, though its fast cars give it cult appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jake Kesey arrives with an invincible black car and methodically eliminates Packard Walsh's gang.
Drag races, customized cars, crashes, and the mysterious black vehicle dominate the action design.
The comic-strip gang, supernatural premise, and emphatic dialogue create a deliberately heightened motorhead fantasy.
Packard Walsh and his gang terrorize an Arizona desert town by coercing drivers into races and stealing their cars.
Films like The Wraith, and why
Road House
campy 1980s action, stylized vehicles, youthful romance, and heightened revenge mythology
The Lost Boys
neon-soaked teenage genre energy, supernatural menace, and 1980s cult atmosphere
Gone in 60 Seconds
car-centered revenge, desert roads, and heightened action melodrama
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike Marvin
- Release Date
- 1986-10-01
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (538)
Cast
- Charlie Sheen
- Nick Cassavetes
- Sherilyn Fenn
- Randy Quaid
- Matthew Barry
- Clint Howard
- David Sherrill
- Jamie Bozian
- Griffin O'Neal
- Chris Nash
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Wraith about?
- A mysterious motorcyclist and his invincible car bring supernatural justice to an Arizona gang that rules through deadly drag races.
- What is The Wraith like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Wraith as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Wraith violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Wraith as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Wraith?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a noisy, simplistic, and poorly written 1980s car-action fantasy, though its fast cars give it cult appeal.
- Which films are like The Wraith?
- Films with a similar feel include Road House, The Lost Boys, and Gone in 60 Seconds.
- How long is The Wraith?
- The Wraith runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Wraith?
- In United States, The Wraith streams on Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel.
