The Apocalypse Doesn’t Suck
Mike has a request….
“…mind making a list of the post-apocalyptic b-movies that don’t suck?”
I’ll do my best, but keep in mind that entertainment is like anything else. One will see a garbage pile, while another will see treasure beyond price. Your mileage will almost certainly vary.
Seems that the end of the world is popular subject. Lots of movies explore the idea, with varying degrees of success. I think I’ll start things off by going over some of the better known films that have come along in the apocalypse category, and leave the dusty, forgotten bygones for another time. More grist for my blogging mill that way.
But, having said the required disclaimer, let us get to the heart of the matter! This post isn’t going to write itself!
Mad Max 2:The Road Warrior (1981)
Mel Gibson reprises his role as the title character, now a bitter ex-policeman wandering the Australian desert while trying to survive day by day. Mobility equals life, as the few survivors chase dwindling resources. When Max stumbles across a working refinery besieged by a gang of leather-clad brigands, this ultimate loner finds that he has to take sides.
Remarkable for any film, this movie beats the odds by producing a sequel that is actually better than the original. It certainly set the tone and look for countless low budget rip-offs. Leather clothes, dry and dusty landscapes, and having the survivors collect mismatched tools and gear became visual shorthand for the end of the world as we know it.
In my opinion, this is the acme of the post-apocalyptic movie genre. Daring stunts, exciting combat sequences, finely drawn characters (for the medium), and a plot that actually makes sense! Max even has a dog as his faithful companion. What more would anyone want?
Don Johnson was only 25 years old when this movie was filmed, his first starring role. He plays the titular boy, actual name Vic, who roams the blasted wastes in search of food and sex. His constant companion is a psychic dog with a rapier wit and sharp telepathic tongue.
The serpent in this rather bleak paradise is a young woman from an underground society that lures Vic down below. Once there, he finds that the powers-that-be intend to mine him for genetic material before disposing of this uncouth outlander. And it isn’t going to be as thrilling as it sounds.
Adapted from a novella of the same name that was penned by Harlan Ellison, and won the Hugo Award in 1976 for Best Dramatic Presentation. Not too bad for a film that was directed by a character actor known for playing good-old-boys in Westerns! It makes sense that this low budget film has collected a loyal cult following.
So far as the overall plot is concerned keep in mind that this work is certainly a product of the time, although it has aged rather well. More cerebral than shoot-em-up, it should provide some food for thought if you are in the mood for such stimulation.
Perhaps the most famous work of Ralph Bakshi, this animated film presents the tale of a gentle wizard who must aid the fairy folk in resisting conquest from a dark wizard, a despot who uses technology from the far distant past to sweep all resistance away.
I was rather conflicted when it came to including this movie on the list. The visuals were interesting, even groundbreaking for the time, but have been surpassed by anime and CGI in recent decades. The plot is the usual “Nature good, technology bad!” which has never gone out of style in Hollywood. The characters are more cliche than interesting.
But I decided to throw it in the mix because this film holds a certain spot in the hearts of fanboys of a certain age, as it was probably the first cartoon with mature themes that many of them had ever encountered. A repeat viewing, where more discerning eyes would take in the spectacle, would reveal that there really isn’t much there. The inclusion of this movie is really an attempt to head off what could be many angry comments, as nostalgia prompted my readers to demand why I overlooked such a sterling example from their formative years.
In other words, it is okay if you are a film historian who can appreciate how Wizards represents an advance in cinema. But you are probably going to be disappointed if you seek this out as a rental. (”Did I really like this when I was in junior high?“)
Just put the execrable remake completely out of your mind. It doesn’t exist! Or it wouldn’t if the universe was just and kind.
Charlton Heston plays an astronaut who crashes on a strange planet, a planet where apes are the intelligent dominant life form, while mankind is nothing more than a collection of speechless and mindless brutes.
Is there anyone reading this who would be surprised by the Big Reveal? If so, you should go out and rent this bad boy right away.
Well made, well acted, well dialogued. Worth your time, you damn dirty ape!
Yet another post-apocalyptic film starring Charlton Heston, this time as the last uninfected man living in a Los Angeles filled with corpses and crazed, diseased, violent Luddites.
Viewing Planet of the Apes and The Omega Man back-to-back really brings home how far the fortunes of Hollywood fell in a mere three years. Where Planet is slick and well funded, Omega looks like something slapped together in parking lots and cheap sets used for TV shows. Seems the studios were suffering from a major economic readjustment at the time, and it shows.
Still, it isn’t bad at all for what it is. One thing that I’m sure will appeal to most readers who stop by to sample my blathering is that Heston gets to use some really cool guns in his fight against the aforementioned diseased Luddites.
Apropos of nothing, you might also get a kick out of this website. Seems you can buy tiny, doll-sized guns that were featured in the movies. Just in case you are sick of how Ken acts like an emasculated sheep around Barbie, and think he should man-up to put a bit of excitement in the relationship. You can even get something that looks like the same gunbelt used by our man Chuck.
The fortunes of the Hollywood studios quickly rebounded since The Omega Man was produced, and this movie proves the truth of that statement. Wonderful set design, decent special effects, and a decent story makes this a must see if you’ve never seen it before.
Oh, and it starred Jenny Agutter.
Michael York plays Logan, a policeman in a perfect society where everyone is killed on their 30th birthday. Sealed off by an impenetrable dome, the idyllic city where they live has no knowledge of the outside world. Tasked by the central computer to infiltrate a resistance movement that smuggles oldsters out beyond the perimeter, Logan finds himself questioning the very authority that has always given his life meaning.
Another one of those movies that enjoys a cult following, it is hard to imagine that anyone interested in science fiction films would have missed coming across this one. But this list is for non-sucky post-apocalyptic cinema, not obscure non-sucky post-apocalyptic films. So it makes the cut because it doesn’t suck.
I think that will hold everyone for now. I’ll have a post where I discuss the lesser known stuff that might be worthwhile at another time. If you have any suggestions, by all means let me hear them through the comments! I value all of your opinions, at least as long as you don’t accuse me of being an idiot.
January 29th, 2010 at 9:02 am
One of my favorites is “Panic in the Year Zero” starring and directed by Ray Milland (1962). Soon after Harry Baldwin (Ray Milland), his wife Ann (Jean Hagen), their son Rick (Frankie Avalon), and daughter Karen (Mary Mitchell) leave suburban Los Angeles on a camping trip, the Baldwins note unusually bright light flashes coming from a great distance. Sporadic news reports on CONELRAD broadcasts hint at the start of a World War - which is confirmed as the Baldwins see a large mushroom cloud over what was Los Angeles. The family initially attempts to return to rescue Ann’s mother near Los Angeles, but soon abandons these plans as panicked refugees from Los Angeles climb over one another to escape the fallout from the multiple nuclear explosions. Witnessing the very threads of society breaking down in front of them, Harry makes the decision that the family must make it to their secluded vacation spot in search of an isolated refuge. Along the way, they stop off to buy supplies — or, in the case of hardware store owner Ed Johnson (Richard Garland), take them by force when he won’t accept a check — and extra gasoline. They also encounter three threatening young hoodlums, Carl (Richard Bakalyan), Mickey (Rex Holman), and Andy (Neil Nephew), on the road, but manage to drive them off.
After a harrowing journey, the Baldwins reach their destination and hole up in a cave to wait for order to be restored. They find that Johnson and his wife are their neighbors - but not for long. The three thugs show up and shoot them. A farming couple suffers the same fate and their teenage daughter, Marilyn (Joan Freeman) is kept as a sex slave. Mickey and Andy happen upon Karen and she is raped. With guns in hand, the Baldwin men fight back, killing the two murderers and freeing Marilyn. When Carl returns, he is killed as well, but Rick is seriously wounded.
With Marilyn’s help, they get the young man to Doctor Strong (Willis Bouchey). The doctor does what he can, but the boy needs to get to an army hospital over a hundred miles (160 km) away or he will die. On their drive there, they run into a military patrol, scouting for the army that is reestablishing order. After a tense meeting, they are allowed to pass through.
January 29th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Might be obscure but my kids really like - “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.”
January 29th, 2010 at 10:19 am
SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!
January 29th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
_Good_ call on A Boy and His Dog. I found it after reading the Ellison story, and thought the crew did a great job with what they had to work with. I’ve made all my friends sit through it at least once.
January 29th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Another vote here for Nausicaa (with the proviso that it’s actually an A-class movie, not B).
Also, I tend to disagree with the proposition that Wizards is an anti-tech film, because of [spoiler].
Oh, and in new and upcoming, keep an eye out for the BBC’s reboot of the post-apoc show “Survivors”. It’s not dry and dusty — more The Stand than Mad Max — but worth a look. I’m also crossing my fingers for the italian Left 4 Dead fan film.
January 29th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
+1 for Nausicaa (aka Warriors of the Wind for its first US release)
Also strong recomends; THX 1138, Appleseed (the 1980s animation, not the new one), Night of the Living Dead , Children of men, Six String Samurai, Zardoz
Weak recomends; Fist of the North Star, Escape from New York, the rest of the Romero sequence in general, but not the ‘living dead’ series, The Postman, Tank Girl, Steel Dawn
January 29th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Good God, someone recommended the Postmen? Why not include Water World? Steel Dawn was just bad, but the Postman?
January 29th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
I’m really a sucker for “The bllod of heroes”/”salute of the Jugger ” with Rutger Hauer. It’s low budget, but it have a unique atmosphere. If you haven’t seen it, do you self a favour and chek it out
January 30th, 2010 at 1:08 am
Speaking of Rutger Hauer, how about Split Second?
What about Damnation Alley. The vehicle was cool!
January 30th, 2010 at 11:44 am
What was the name of that movie where the nuclear fallout had caused everyone to lose their voices, so there was no dialogue? Also almost all women had not survived–only men. Strange movie.
January 30th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
I really liked Logan’s Run. The book was good, too, although substantially different.
January 31st, 2010 at 6:07 am
Alan, you’re probably thinking of ‘Le dernier Combat (The Last Battle)’ by Luc Besson. It features my favorite pet peeve in post-apocalypse / disaster movies: people still wearing TIES, for frack sake! The bomb dropped, people. Time to take ‘em off!
January 31st, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I never saw A Boy and His Dog nor have I read the story but will look for it now. I remember going to see The Road Warrior and not expecting much but being very happily surprised by the movie. Also liked Logan’s Run but liked the book much more. The original Planet of the Apes was also great but I was only 8 or 9 when I first saw it and that may have colored my perceptions a little. Don’t have any other good post apocalyse movies to add but would like to put in a plug for a book titled “Level Seven” which was a pretty sobering look at nuclear war and it’s aftermath
January 31st, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Perry: I don’t think so. I don’t remember any ties. The whole atmosphere was very grubby, dirty and desperate. I can tell you that I remember the opening scene was of the protagonist having sex with a cheap inflatable doll.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:24 am
Interesting little list there James.
PotA was a good movie, although you do realise that you’ve spoiled the ending with your choice of screen shots? Ah well, its not like they’d put that on the cover of the DVD or anything . . .
“A Boy and his Dog” never really worked for me either.
Nor did “Logan’s Run.” The book was, IMHO, better than the movie. IMO all the movie had going for it was Jenny Agutter nekkid . . . then again, that’s probably enough.
Wizards I haven’t seen, but I will add it to my get around to list.
“Mad Max 2” Well I agree with you about it being the best of the post-apocalyptic genre. Actually IMHO it ROCKS, and I would personally rate it as one of the best movies ever made. It moves along at a cracking pace, everything in it hangs together and at its heart a stroy about redemption. (Although a mate of mine did once describe it as being: “Two hours of pure violence.” That’s nonsense; it runs for ninety-eight minutes.)
February 1st, 2010 at 12:16 pm
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