Horace (The Love Bug)

This article is about the character Horace from The Love Bug (1997 film). For other characters, see Horace (disambiguation).

Horace the Hate Bug (or simply known as Horace) is an evil black VW beetle and Herbie's evil twin who appears in the 1997 television remake of The Love Bug, equipped with modifications and vicious behavior he will win at all costs even as far as to kill Herbie.

Background

Personality

Unlike Herbie who is full of love, Horace is completely the opposite. He is in reality a true mean racing machine that will do whatever it takes to win, like his owner desires. He's also noticeable as a sore loser when he fails to win a road race between him and Herbie.

He can get bored quite easily and due to being very competitive he likes to get out and run, go fast rather than being cooped up inside a garage. Sometimes he can be beyond Simon's control when driving on the streets at high speeds or losing his temper.

Role in the Film

In the film, Horace was built by Dr. Gustav Stumpfel, the same person who created Herbie only to be created with a vicious and evil personality. He becomes the personal race car of Ex Formula-One race driver Simon Moore III.

When Simon decides to eliminate the competition he sends Horace and Rupert to find Herbie and kill him. Rupert was about to do the job himself until Horace did the honors and brutally smashes Herbie to death with Rupert watching in horror.

Much to Horace's disgust, he saw Herbie rebuilt while Simon took him out for some exercise. So they decided to settle this in a road race. Using modifications to cheat, Horace and Simon try piercing Herbie's tires and even try splitting him in two in order to win. Despite their best efforts, Herbie still wins the race. Furious over losing to Herbie, Horace attempts to destroy him by running him down. Unfortunately, he misses and goes off the edge of the dam and blows up when he crashes into the Earth.

Trivia

• Horace shares some references to other villainous cars like Christine who was an evil living female 1958 Plymouth Fury and K.A.R.R. from Knight Rider was an artificial intelligent prototype vehicle of K.I.T.T. equipped with gadgetry modifications.
• Since both Horace and Herbie were built in the same way and by the same person that would make them kind of like brothers.
• To date, Horace is the only non-human villain in the Love Bug franchise.
• The sound effect used for Horace's growl is the "growling bear."

Gallery

v - e - d

Media Films: The Love Bug • Herbie Rides Again • Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo • Herbie Goes Bananas • The Love Bug (1997 film) • Herbie: Fully Loaded Television: Herbie, the Love Bug • House of Mouse Video Games: Herbie: Fully Loaded • Herbie Rescue Rally Books: Herbie's Special Friend • Disney's Wonderful World of Reading Characters Herbie • Jim Douglas • Tennessee Steinmetz • Carole Bennet • Peter Thorndyke • Havershaw • Tang Wu • Willoughby Whitfield • Nicole Harris • Mrs. Steinmetz • Alonzo Hawk • Mr. Judson • Maxwell • Wheely Applegate • Diane Darcy • Giselle • Bruno von Stickle • Claude Gilbert • Max and Quincy • Inspector Bouchet • Fontenoy • Emile • Duval • Pete Stancheck • Davy Johns • Paco • Prindle • Quinn • Shepard • Captain Blythe • Louise Trends • Melissa • Armando Moccia • Hank Cooper • Alex Davis • Roddy Martel • Chuck • Simon Moore III • Rupert • Dr. Gustav Stumpfel • Horace • Maggie Peyton • Ray Peyton, Sr. • Trip Murphy • Kevin • Sally • Charisma • Ray Peyton, Jr. • Crash • Crazy Dave • Bo Phillips • Susan MacLane • Julie MacLane • Matthew MacLane • Robbie McLane • Randy Bigelow Songs The Love Bug • Found a New Friend • Herbie, My Best Friend • Born to Be Wild Locations The Firehouse • San Francisco • Paris • Panama • Mexico See Also Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular • Thorndyke Special • Sun Princess