Trivia: Reportedly, the films uses of the f-word were added at the last minute because they didn't think the film would get an R-rating due to most of the violence being not very bloody. (Mostly just people getting hit by cars.) They were worried movie goers wouldn't go to see a Stephen King horror movie that was rated PG, so they peppered in several f-bombs to artificially drive it up to an R-rating.
Trivia: One time Alexandra Paul brought her twin sister Caroline to the set and successfully pranked director John Carpenter by having Caroline shoot a scene. Carpenter, very amused, later said he could tell there was something odd going on when they shot the scene... but couldn't quite figure out what it was.
Chosen answer: Hydraulics and wires were set up inside the body to pull the panels in and crumple them. Then the film of this happening was simply run backwards.
Grumpy Scot