James Goldstone's Rollercoaster is a kind of cinematic relic from the moment in Hollywood history when blockbusters started to become big business and the number one priority for movie studios. It tells the story of Harry Calder, a ride inspector, who finds himself in the middle of a serial amusement park bomber case. The mysterious bomber, having already struck twice before, is holding several prominent amusement park owners ransom for $1 million in order to stop the carnage. Calder is one of the only people who can identify the bomber's handiwork. As a result, the bomber chooses Calder as the man who will deliver the ransom money to him. However, after the police arrogantly ignore the bomber's instructions and mark the ransom money, he informs Calder that he will have to "punish" him. And so begins a race against time to figure out his next target and save it from his evil machinations. Rollercoaster was originally shown in "Sensurround," a system designed for Earthquake (1974) which used low-frequency sounds to make the audience "feel" on-screen vibrations. As a result, Rollercoaster is rife with extended footage of people riding theme park rides. Apparently, the "Sensurround" made audiences feel like they were really on the rides. But watching Rollercoaster without "Sensurround" is still a very rewarding experience. In a serendipitous accident, the extended theme park footage increases the suspense. The first 15 minutes of Rollercoaster is one of the most nail-biting and expertly crafted suspense sequences of the 70s. It's a shame that Rollercoaster had to be released in 1977, the same year that George Lucas' Star Wars first hit an unsuspecting populace. If it had been released a year earlier, Rollercoaster would probably still be considered a classic.
8/10
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