Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983)Ĭharles Band is no stranger to exploiting popular trends, but his movies have a unique style and personality that elevates them above simple knockoff status. The New Barbarians is probably the least interesting of the three films, but it’s still entertaining viewing thanks to some enthusiastic performances and Castellari’s brand of action-packed mayhem. In this one, Scorpion (Giancarlo Prete) - the Max-esque loner - teams with Nadir (Fred Williamson) to battle a gruesome gang that wants to put an end to the human race in the wake of nuclear holocaust. The New Barbarians, on the other hand, is a departure from the style of the first two movies as it leans into the trilogy’s Mad Max influences more prominently. But with their urban settings, these movies are more in the vein of Escape from New York, The Warriors, Death Wish, and The Exterminator than they are Miller’s action classics. Castellari took elements from all three flicks - among others - to create his Bronx Warriors Trilogy.ġ990: The Bronx Warriorsand Escape from the Bronx are similar to Mad Max in the sense that they take place in a future society that’s populated with savage goons. This aspect makes them fitting bedfellows, and Enzo G. While quite different from each other, all three depict a future when society has eroded and chaos reigns supreme. There were three specific films that informed Italian genre cinema in the ’80s: Mad Max, The Warriors, and Escape from New York. Maybe that’s true, but the similarities between both films are unquestionable.ġ990: The Bronx Warriors (1982), Escape from the Bronx (1983), and The New Barbarians (1983) In the commentary track for the film’s DVD release, he says that it was made at the same time as Miller’s film, citing the oil crisis of the ‘70s as the inspiration for the movie. Interestingly, director Harley Cokliss has claimed that Battletruck isn’t a Road Warrior ripoff. That’s not easy, though, as Straker commands a giant truck and it’s a force to be reckoned with. It is then up to the motorcycle-riding good guy, Hunter (Michael Beck), to help the locals ward off the savage bandits. The story centers around a group of raiders, led by General Straker (James Wainwright), who have taken over a peaceful community and are terrorizing the residents. The story takes place in a ravaged society following the destructive Oil Wars, which have left the world in a lawless state. Battletruck (1982)Īlso known as Warlords of the 21st Century, Battletruck is New Zealand’s take on The Road Warrior, but it throws in some Seven Samurai for good measure. While the majority of these films are low-budget oddities, I’ve also included a couple of lavish Hollywood productions to show that the Mad Max franchise has been imitated at the top as well. With this in mind, let’s look back at the history of this niche subgenre with a selection of movies that represent it at its very best. MAD MAX TOR JOHNSON HOW TOThe rest of the world got in on the action as well, but the best Mad Max imitators were helmed by Italian mavericks who knew how to stretch a buck and have a good time. They also spiced things up by incorporating elements of other post-apocalyptic yarns into their narratives in an effort to create maximum carnage. Low-budget Italian filmmakers were particularly fond of making Mad Max clones during the trend’s boom period. These futures also tend to be barren, desert wastelands. In these futures, people drive muscular vehicles, have a badass fashion sense, and engage in gladiatorial combat to pass the time. These flicks depict futures in which society has collapsed and turned human beings into barbarians and savages. Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, a whole wave of films emerged that essentially copied Max Max’s interpretation of a world gone wild. Furthermore, their interpretation of a futuristic society has been adopted by countless movies, shows, books, comics, and video games that base their own stories in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Miller’s high octane dystopian actioners have wowed audiences with their mind-blowing stunts and enthralling set-pieces for over forty years, shaping action cinema in the process. When George Miller unleashed Mad Max on audiences back in 1979, he had no idea that the film and its subsequent sequels would have an everlasting effect on pop culture. Brief History is a column that tells you all you need to know about your favorite - and not so favorite - pop culture topics.
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