In the seventies a new sound system was developed in the
hope of increasing attendance at movies. The system was created for Universal
Studios and called Sensurround. The first film using the system was EARTHQUAKE.
The system was basically four huge speakers located in the corners of the
theater that would blare out lowered bass tones and sound effects at certain
sequences in the film causing patrons to actually feel the sound as well as
hear it. Only a few films were made this way and the new concept didn’t take
root. But there were several movies made
using it, including ROLLERCOASTER.
An unknown protagonist (Timothy Bottoms) sneaks into an
amusement park and rigs a bomb on one of their rollercoasters. Detonating it
remotely the resulting wreck kills several of those on the ride at the time.
Safety inspector Harry Calder (George Seagal), who had signed off shortly
before this incident, is called in to investigate what happened.
When another incident happens across the country Harry
believes the two are connected. Discovering there is a meeting of amusement
park owners taking place in Chicago he flies there to confront them. They let
him know that they’ve been blackmailed by the bomber who says he will blow up
more rollercoasters if they don’t pay him $1 million.
Harry connects with the FBI agent in charge of handling the
blackmail case, Hoyt (Richard Widmark). Harry carries the ransom money to the
park the bomber has next targeted and told to wait for a phone call at a pay
phone. The bomber tells him there is a bomb set to go off, tells him where to
pick up a two way radio and then sends him back and forth across the park
riding various rides. Knowing what the FBI has planned to do he tells Harry to
signal the drop has been made but sends him to drop it elsewhere. Afterwards
Hoyt tells Harry the money was marked.
The bomber calls Harry at home blaming him for the marked
bills. He then tells him he will get revenge. Calder, feeling that the next attack
will be launched at him personally, tells Hoyt that the most logical target
will be a new coaster opening up at Magic Mountain that he signed off on. The
Great American Revolution is set to open that weekend with plenty of fanfare
and cameras rolling. Will this be the location? And if so will Harry be able to
stop the bomber?
The movie plays out as a solid detective story, a thriller
that plays out well as the story progresses. The fact that Harry is a ride
inspector makes his character that much more interesting as opposed to his
being a regular detective. The entire film is much like its title, a movie that
moves up and down and offers thrills from start to finish.
Seagal was at his peak at this time and does a great job as
Harry. The inclusion of Widmark as the FBI agent works well here too, a
reliable face movie fans trusted at the time. Bottoms does a great job as the
unhinged bomber. And in a small role as Harry’s young daughter is the then
unknown Helen Hunt.
Extras include the original
SENSURROUND soundtrack, an interview with associate producer/writer Tommy Cook,
a still gallery, radio spots and the original theatrical trailer.
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