Movie Review: 'King Car' is Bold, Weird and Stylish

King Car is a bizarre and fascinating movie. Set in modern day Brazil, the story follows a college student named Uno who, somehow, develops the ability to speak to cars. Uno, actor uncredited, was born in the back of one of his father’s taxis. This, apparently, fostered a bond between Uno and the car. That bond was broken for a time when the car saved Uno from being struck by this car driven by Uno’s mother who was distracted and didn’t know she was about to hit Uno. The car swerved itself to save Uno but was crushed in the effort and Uno’s mother was killed.

Uno grew up hating cars and only ever riding a bike. He goes so far as to completely reject his father who expected Uno to take business classes and join the family taxi business. Instead, Uno goes to college and learns about Agriculture and Sustainability. Uno meets a young woman named Amora with whom he develops a romance. However, when Uno’s father suffers a heart attack, Uno is drawn back into the family business in very unexpected and strange ways.

Uno’s father suffered a heart attack after being told that his fleet of taxis would be banned from the roads by a new Brazilian environmental law. The new law states that vehicles older than 15 years old will be banned from the roads. Anyone wanting to drive will need to get a car less than 15 years old or risk being fined and or arrested. In response, Uno seeks out his Uncle Ze, a weirdo genius inventor who may have a way to upgrade older cars to make them look new and read as new when inspected by the government.

Ze also happens to be in possession of the car that was Uno’s childhood best friend. Restarting the car, Uno bonds with the vehicle once again and they are still able to speak. Uno explains to Ze that he can speak to the car and the two set about rebuilding the former taxi into what comes to be called King Car, a yellow and blue taxi vehicle that looks brand new and will pass any government inspection. Ze also develops a way for King Car to speak to more than just Uno and the Car slowly builds a small cult around itself as other poor people with older cars come calling on Ze to upgrade their vehicles.

To say that King Car is a lot, is a grave understatement. I’ve only given you a sense of what the plot of King Car is but believe me, there is so much more to this movie. A big part is a character named Mercedes and portrayed by Jules Elting. Mercedes is a performance artist and, to steal a line from Maude Lebowski, their art has been commended as being strongly vaginal. I will leave you to see King Car to find out exactly what that means. Mercedes develops a relationship of sorts with King Car and this is also quite something to see.

But King Car is about more than just shocking sexuality. Co-Writer and Director Renata Pinheiro has strong points to make about the environment, cars, agriculture and sustainability. Pinheiro uses the unusual and striking story of King Car to talk about how even well intentioned attempts to change the world can become corrupted and while some speak of wanting to help the poor and those being exploited by the government, some only seek to help because of ulterior motives related to their own quest for power.

King Car is not an easy watch, it’s a movie of big bold ideas and one that makes use of shocking sexuality and the tools of a thriller or horror movie to make points about societal change. King Car will not be a movie for a broad audience but for fans of arthouse cinema and big ideas, King Car is certainly worth a look. King Car is bold and weird and the filmmakers behind King Car are fearless in the pursuit of their truth and the art they use to communicate that truth.

King Car arrives in limited theatrical release and for On Demand rental on January 7th, 2022.