Continuity mistake: During the chase scene where they attach the "engine killer" remote to the Dodge M4S (aka Wraith's vehicle), 2 Chevy Malibu Cop cars are barreling up the road towards the racers. Once the cops pass the starting line, the cars are now Dodge cop cars. (00:44:25)
The Wraith (1986)
1 picture
Directed by: Mike Marvin
Starring: Charlie Sheen, Randy Quaid, Nick Cassavetes, Sherilyn Fenn
Visible crew/equipment: In many of the racing scenes the camera crew's shadows can be seen at the bottom of the screen. (Corrected in the DVD version).
Billy Hankins: Look, do you mind if I lay my towel here? I ain't welcome over there.
Jake: Why not?
Billy Hankins: Why ain't I welcome or it's ok to lay here?
Jake: Take your pick.
Question: Why didn't the sheriff do anything about Packard's gang? Surely someone must have wanted to file a complaint at some point? And if the sheriff isn't doing his job, why doesn't the state police step in?
Join the mailing list
Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.
Answer: After the first race where Augie is killed the sheriff says "I've been waiting to catch you guys in the act. Been waiting and watching." So we can assume there were complaints made however the sheriff may not have had enough evidence to shut them down completly. As far as the state police, I'm not sure. May be a jurisdictional thing.
Mister Ed
I agree with this answer. Packard was very careful not to flagrantly break any laws. He even said this to Loomis in the "paper doll" scene later in the movie - Packard says that the gang hadn't done anything except "bust the speed limit."