The Wraith 1986

In the barren town of Brooks, Arizona, Packard Walsh, the ruthless leader of a gang of car thieves, has established his reign through fear and manipulation, preying on those with valuable vehicles. His sinister pastime involves forcing victims into high-stakes races, where the winner walks away with the loser’s prized automobile. Among those ensnared by Packard is Keri Johnson, whom he regards as his personal possession. The loss of her boyfriend, Jamie Hankins, has left Keri haunted by gaps in her memory related to the unforgiving murder that stole him away.

Just as tensions rise, Jake Kesey rides into Brooks on a dirt bike, quickly forming friendships with Billy Hankins, Jamie’s brother, and Keri. As his story unfolds, glimpses of Jake’s dark past emerge, including troubling scars on his neck and back—a haunting reminder of a violent history.

Packard’s firm control over the local racing circuit shakes when a mysterious driver, concealed behind a black helmet and clad in body armor, makes an entrance in an all-black Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor supercar. This newcomer throws down a challenge to Packard’s gang, igniting a series of high-speed, catastrophic crashes that leave two racers dead. The aftermath reveals one victim with hollow eye sockets—an image etched in horror—while the Turbo Interceptor displays its extraordinary powers by self-repairing and vanishing in a shimmering light, leaving Sheriff Loomis utterly perplexed.

Witnessing the chaos is Rughead, the gang’s tech expert, who realizes that the fatalities are tied to Jamie Hankins’ murder. When Sheriff Loomis arrives on the scene, Rughead shares his findings about the dark connections between the victims and the haunting past, intensifying the search for answers.

As Packard’s gang crumbles, he opts to flee Brooks for California, yet not before he kidnaps Keri and violently confronts Billy when he tries to help. As the trio travels, Keri bravely fends off Packard’s advances. In a climactic moment, as Packard threatens her with a knife, the Turbo Interceptor reemerges, ready for a final clash. The showdown culminates in a fiery wreck that mirrors the tragic fates of his gang, resulting in Packard’s ultimate undoing. With the hunt for the enigmatic driver called off by Loomis, a sense of calm settles over Brooks.

Returning home, Keri is struck by an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, as the gleaming form of the Turbo Interceptor comes into view. Out steps Jake, his gaze locking onto hers with an unsettling intensity. Slowly, the realization dawns on Keri that this is no ordinary encounter—Jake represents a resurrected echo of her lost love, Jamie, returning to rekindle their unfinished story. The tension rises as Jamie/Jake requests a brief pause for a final task before he can embrace Keri fully. He hands over the car keys to Billy, who is left in stunned silence as Jake fades into the night, leaving only a whisper of “you already know.” As if sensing the presence of something otherworldly, Billy experiences a moment of clarity, recognizing the truth that has been revealed to him. Meanwhile, from a distance, Loomis witnesses as Jake and Keri disappear into the desert twilight, their silhouettes merging with the moonlit highway—two lost souls seeking solace in the vastness of the American wilderness.