After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater

In 1956, the American landscape boasted some 5,000 drive-ins; today, we have 837. Young filmmaker Jon Bokenkamp interviews John Bloom (a.k.a., drive-in movie critic Joe Bob Briggs), John Carpenter (whose films, such as Escape From L.A., are tailor-made for the drive-in sensibility), Hollywood movie mogul Samuel Z. Arkoff (producer of the legendary Beach Blanket Bingo, among other drive-in classics), and a host of die-hard drive-in owners across America. That's what interesting about After Sunset: an interviewee talking about taking a flashlight and banging on a car with steamed-up windows, or Sky-Vue Drive-In patrons boasting about a greasy, cholesterol-laden creation called the Chihuahua which will bring them out to the movies regardless of what's actually playing. What's not interesting about After Sunset is the form: Bokenkamp and three friends turn this into a twentysomethings on the road film (as opposed to, say, researching their subject). So, we get to watch a friend try to eat a 72 oz. steak or see the quartet lounge around a beach (what is this a Baywatch audition?) Although not a great history, After Sunset does have some wonderful moments, and is therefore a strong optional purchase for larger collections. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)