OOP DVD
As cinema fans we’ve all got our “guilty pleasures” whether they be slasher films, supernatural thrillers or romantic comedies starring Sarah Jessica Parker. One of my guilty pleasures has always been post-apocalyptic films. Man, the more they steal from Mad Max and Escape from New York the better they are! Throw in a superdope Goblin-esque soundtrack and it’s a fuckin’ sneering, face-painted, gun-totin’ party!
I’m not really sure why but films like 1990 Bronx Warriors and 2019: After The Fall really hit the spot for me. I mean you get everything…guns, ‘splosions, chicks (preferably naked) and some hard-as-nails leather & metal clad badasses doing what they do best! These films are like the best of both worlds…you get Sci-Fi and Cannon action films rolled into one!
Future-Kill while not quite POST-apocalyptic could definitely fit in amongst the films named above. It’s more of a PRE-apocalyptic flick with new wavey punkers taking the place of grizzled, scavenging bikers.
Hmm…yeah…come to think of it the baddies in this flick were a mixed bunch. They either looked like Culture Club groupies or mustachioed porn actors. The only truly kick ass villain was Edwin Neal as ultra-violent gang leader, Splatter.
I’m getting ahead of myself…
The world is in chaos as anti-nuke protests sweep the world over. The protestors all belong to a non-violent group dedicated to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. Society has become a fractured, segregated and harsh world only the poor are forced to experience.
When a group of college frat boys are given the task of kidnapping a “freak” (anti-nuke protestor) and bringing them back to their frat house as a sign of allegiance, they all jump in their car and set out in search of the perfect freak.
The guys finally arrive in a seedy part of town, paint their faces, rat and style their hair and begin trolling the streets hoping to find the freak that will appease their frat leader. Luckily they find that very freak! Unfortunately for them…he’s the leader of the anti-nuke movement, Eddie Pain (Doug Davis)! When the group attempts to make a move on Eddie, unstable “hired gun” Splatter (Edwin Neal of TCM) takes the opportunity to rid himself and the movement of Eddie Pain and his non-violent ways.
Dwindling in numbers and on the run, the frat boys find themselves blamed for the murder of Eddie Pain and the target of every freak on the street. The guys must fight, and even kill, to survive on the streets. Their only hope in stopping Splatter and getting out of the shitty side of the city lies with street-wise prostitute Julie (Alice Villarreal) and the mysterious Dorothy Grim (Marilyn Burns of TCM).
Will the remaining group survive the freak onslaught and Splatter’s savagery or will they fall at the hands of the “new” anti-nuke movement’s methods?
Ya know, now that I think about it Future-Kill shares quite a few similarities with The Warriors though it comes nowhere near that classic. Future-Kill does, however, hold its own with what it has and ends up being surprisingly interesting. The film held my attention the entire running time and I think that was really due to Ed Neal’s performance as Splatter.
Splatter is a metallic psychopath with no conscience and no shortage of “bicky bicky bwang” henchmen. He kind of reminded me of the lead biker in Weird Science. The guy is just ruthless and I laughed myself silly when he turns a scuzzy hooker with great tits into an aluminum burrito…with…great tits.
Future-Kill can’t honestly be considered a classic but it’s definitely good clean fun for the entire family! You’ll groove to the new wave / punk style, you’ll cheer the goremongering Splatter and you’ll gawk at the sleazy hotties. Sometimes that’s all a fan can ask for.
Subversive Cinema has struck cult geek gold with this wonderful release of Future-Kill and it looks better than ever. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this uncut so it was a treat to see the tits & gore. Not only do we get a new transfer but Subversive heaps on the extras for those of you interested in finding out more about the production of this film.
Whether you’re a post-apocalyptic cinema fan or you still rock out to Duran Duran sporting tsunami bangs and eye-liner, Future-Kill is a fun, low budget blast from the past guaranteed to have you wasting your time with a smile on your face.
Quick factoid, yes…that is H.R. Giger sleeve art. If you weren’t able to recognize that the minute you saw the artwork you need retina transplants. If you don’t know who H.R. Giger is…what good are you? BE GONE!
