Giant monster trucks, capable of crushing everything in their path, have become symbols of power and excitement. Not only do they dominate extreme sports arenas, but these four-wheeled behemoths have also found their way into the world of cinema. You might be surprised to learn that even Thai films could potentially feature these impressive vehicles.
To understand the appeal of monster trucks and why they might appear in Thai cinema (though perhaps not as prevalent as in other film industries), let’s explore the world of these extraordinary machines.
Classic Monster Truck Maneuvers
On the night of February 24th at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California, driver “Diesel Dave” stunned the audience by executing a double backflip in his yellow monster truck at the 2019 Monster Jam. This masterful performance not only secured the Freestyle victory for “Diesel Dave” and the BroDozer racing team for the second consecutive time but also solidified the position of monster trucks in the hearts of fans worldwide.
Monster Jam, the largest monster truck competition on the planet, is held almost year-round in the US and Canada. Events take place continuously, with the main competition season during the winter months. The appeal of Monster Jam extends far beyond North America, reaching countries like Europe, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. This demonstrates that the passion for monster trucks is borderless and can be easily embraced anywhere, including in the entertainment culture of Thailand.
At Monster Jam events, monster trucks compete in two main categories: racing and freestyle. Freestyle is always the center of attention, where drivers showcase their skillful driving and boundless creativity. From skillful “moonwalks” to daring “wheelies” and breathtaking backflips, each freestyle performance is a unique story, filled with drama and surprise.
A memorable milestone in freestyle history was in January 2012, when George Balhan became the first driver to successfully perform a consecutive backflip. Since then, this skill has become increasingly popular and an integral part of top-tier performances. Drivers continue to push the boundaries, with double backflips or even double backflips in mid-air before landing, leaving the audience captivated.
The video below captures the moment driver Tom Meents of the Max-D racing team performed a double backflip in mid-air before landing at Monster Jam 2015:
Tom Meents performing a double backflip in a monster truck at Monster Jam 2015
Monster Trucks and Popular Culture: Could There Be a “Thai Monster Truck Movie”?
The popularity of monster trucks extends beyond sporting events. They have become a part of popular culture, appearing in video games, toys, and especially movies. Although there aren’t any blockbuster Thai films solely focused on monster trucks like Hollywood productions, the possibility of these powerful vehicles appearing in Thai cinema cannot be ruled out.
Perhaps in a Thai action movie, a customized monster truck could serve as a unique vehicle for the villain, or in a dramatic street racing scene, a monster truck could add a distinctive and exciting element. Or, perhaps in the future, Thai cinema will produce its own monster truck movies, exploring the immense entertainment potential of these machines.
While a “Thai monster truck movie” may not be a common genre yet, their potential and appeal are undeniable. With the boundless creativity of filmmakers, we can certainly anticipate exciting surprises that monster trucks might bring to the Thai screen in the future.
Conclusion
Monster trucks are not just powerful machines; they are symbols of innovation, adventure, and the spirit of conquest. Whether they appear in the fiery arena of Monster Jam or potentially lurk in a corner of Thai cinema, monster trucks maintain their status as one of the most unique and captivating automotive icons in global popular culture.
