Film's Title Did it a Serious Injustice
Apparently, when this film was named, Peter Weir, etc., either didn't mean for people to take it literally, or they DID mean it, and wanted to draw a larger crowd. But, if you're looking for a movie about killer cars that literally eat people in Paris, France, STAY AWAY FROM THIS MOVIE.
Now, for the rest of you, if you like quirky, dark comedies set in Australian small towns, this may be for you. The humor can be a bit esoteric for non-Australians, but the film has its universally good moments -- especially the powerful ending. It's too bad the title was misunderstood as humor, because the movie's not bad at all.

AN OK MOVIE
THE CARS THAT ATE PARIS IS NOT A HORROR MOVIE. ITS REALLY ABOUT POOR PEOPLE IN PARIS, AUSTRALIA. THE WHOLE PLOT OF IT IS A FAMILY CAUSES CAR ACCIDENTS SO THEY CAN SELL THE CAR PARTS IN JUNKYARDS FOR CASH. THE SOUNDTRACK IS PRETTY GOOD FOR A B MOVIE AND THE PLOT IS ALRIGHT, BUT I RECCOMEND THIS MOVIE ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE BAD ACTING AND CORNY JOKES.

Quintessential Australian Gothic
If this is not the picture that actually launched the Australian Gothic genre of the New Wave from Down Under, then I'd like to know which picture did. Weir's early work is bound to be a cult classic, and a great primer in all the elements that have come to define the Australian Gothic. Every great Australian movie has begun with a car accident; ever wonder why? This picture may have set the pace for all that came after.