It was on the box over Christmas, so naturally we had to haul in a few extra crates of suds, snip the phone wires, switch off the mobile, execute the cat, and make ourselves comfortable for the best 98 minutes of the season. 

For those still not acquainted with this celluloid gem, Vanishing Point is one of the greatest road movies ever made. It's up there (if not way beyond) the likes of:

Two Lane Blacktop (1971) starring singer James Taylor and the late Beach Boys' drummer, Dennis Wilson

Duel (1971) starring the late Dennis Weaver

Badlands (1973) starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek

Thunderbolt & Lightfoot (1974) starring Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges

 Midnight Run (1988) starring Robert DeNiro and Charles Grodin

—and don't even mention Thelma and Louise (1991) or Easy Rider (1969) because we went there once, and we ain't going back.