The film was released theatrically on 288 screens in the U.S. by New Century Vista Film Company ( later New Century Entertainment Corporation ) .The Wraith tells the story of a murdered Arizona teen who mysteriously returns from the dead as an all-powerful drag racing wraith intent on taking revenge on a gang of car thieves and their psychotic leader , who murdered the teen so the leader could then exert emotional control over the dead teen 's girlfriend using intimidation .
The protagonist 's girlfriend is intimidated by her boyfriend 's psychotic killer in the movie The Wraith .