I have a theory about maximum overdrive. I don't know if this is too late for corrections and omissions but here it is:
There is a scientology influence on this movie. In fact the whole "machines come alive" premise is wrong. instead this movie is about how the ghosts of aliens (which is scientology's bonkers idea, aka thetans) are empowered by the tail of the comet to interact with the physical world.
Instead of alive machines what we have are ghost aliens using physical objects to try and kill mankind, this explains how an electric knife can move without any form of locomotion, and also how sprinklers and watermelons can be in on the murder. really this explanation kind of covers all the anomalous examples. It also explains how sprinklers know when you are looking at them, because the ghost alien can see you. Also how a jeep knows Morse code, if the ghost aliens have always been around, they had plenty of time to learn it.