Sorcerer (1977)

William Friedkin tested himself in 1977 with the production of Sorcerer. Employing a seasoned cast including Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal and Amidou. He retells the story of the 1953 The Wages of Fear, (film created from the French novel Le Salaire de La Peur). Four principle characters from different parts of the globe engage in activities that necessitate their departure from their homeland (each story is more fantastic than that next as to how these men became fugitives). They assume fact identities and take up residence somewhere in a remote village in Central America. Living in harsh conditions, where the village economy is solely reliant on an oil company. As is commonly the case when fantastic wealth collides with stark poverty, a disaster occurs and a revolt ensues. An oil well explodes and dynamite must be used to extinguish it. But as the dynamite has been stored improperly it has become unstable and still be trucked over to 200 miles to the well site. Thus begins a fantastic journey of our four key players. They are recruited to drive this sensitive cargo across the country and either be paid handsomely or perish. 

Just a side note, we saw reviews of this movie before we watched it. All these reviews assured us that it was a nail-biter. It did not disappoint.