What if... you had committed a terrible crime, (one or more) and you were sure you'd end up in Hell.How would you know if you were there? Do you think that the Devil himself or one of his minions would come for you and take you there?

      Perhaps, but let's take another scenario: What if you were there, in Hell, and thought it was of your own free will? Say, you just bought a ticket on a plane or a boat and took off. Would you even realize that? Would it be any different from any other life experience? You might get a clue from the fact that things were beginning to go bad, then going even worse. Another clue might be that you found yourself in the company of others with whom you were sharing the same fate. Perhaps, like you, they came to Hell to hide from their past.

      This is the premise of a fascinating film taken from the novel "The Wages of Fear". French author Georges Arnaud, made it into a French language production of the same title before it came to America and was re-titled, "Sorcerer" Directed by William Friedkin, from the screen play by Walon Green, "Sorcerer" gives me goose flesh just to recall seeing it! No, there's nothing that jumps out and scares you. It's not that kind of story.

      It's about four-men, all criminals of different sorts from different parts of the world. They end up in a dismal, South American jungle shanty town, an obvious hellish, forlorn place you wouldn't wish on your mother-in-law. Each individual is on the run from their respective fates. Each man had to leave his former abode rather hastily and each is desperate for money just to survive.

      These people are drawn together for one final act of desperation, perhaps of salvation or damnation. The advenure truly begins when an American oil company field boss hires them to haul a dangerous cargo of nitroglycerine to the site of an oil well fire, over 200 miles of treacherous roadway, which runs through thick, heat laden jungle.

      First they must rebuild two-derelict trucks to carry the highly volatile explosive that will be used to extinguish the fire. These vehicles are eerie looking beasts (but cool !), that you would not want to see in your rearview mirror!

      This adventure is also laden with suspense and that one last hope for these men to redeem themselves, if only in their own eyes.

      "Sorcerer" is a strange title, perhaps misplaced but then again, perhaps not, as there seems to be an eerie black magic at work beneath the surface that moves the characters like puppets. Why else would they even consider such a dangerous job and even kill to get it, unless they were being compelled against their will?! You may get the feeling, like me, that this quartet is already in Hell, and the cries of the jungle birds are actually the Devil's laughter!

      The four criminals are played by Roy Scheider as Scanlon/Dominguez, Bruno Cremer as Victor Manzon/Serrano and Francisco Rabal as Nilo. I believe the fourth is played by Amidou, (a one-name actor) or Ramon Beiri, neither of whom get proper crediting on the disk. Another main star of this Noir, 1977, PG production, is the score by the fantastic German group known as Tangerine Dream. T.D. has successfully scored a number of films with their unique styling of synthesized music that is compelling, exciting and unforgettable! When you see that beastly truck swaying on that flimsy bridge, no other music could fit!

      One reviewer called "Sorcerer" 'The toughest, most relentless American film in a long time.' Absolutely!