Geeky and introverted student Arnie Cunningham stumbles upon Christine — a battered, rust-covered 1958 Plymouth Fury — and is instantly captivated. What begins as a passing fascination soon spirals into an all-consuming obsession, as Arnie dedicates himself to restoring the once-glorious machine to her former splendor. But as Christine's gleam returns, so too does something darker — a transformation not only in the car, but within Arnie himself. Behind the wheel of his reborn beauty, he sheds his timid nature, morphing into someone bold, commanding… even cold. His girlfriend Leigh and his loyal best friend Dennis watch in growing concern, reaching out to the boy they once knew, only to be confronted by a chilling change — and a fury unlike anything they could have imagined.