After learning of this film for the first time from Nic
Brown of the B-Movie Cast I sought it out. From Nic's brief plot description it
was clear that this was just going to be another retread of THE SEVEN SAMURAI
by way of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN with a touch of THE ROAD WARRIOR slathered
across the top and that is certainly what it turned out to be. The fairly weak
script is enlivened by a cast trying to do their best even if they are often undermined
by poor direction. This is a very low budget affair and that shows most
noticeable in the first third where we are treated to the clumsiest information
dump I have ever witnessed in a feature film. As we watch the amazing Bruce
Dern drive from his desert oasis village to the means streets of the nearest
metropolis we listen as he reels off about three single-spaced pages of history
and back-story. Dern is a good enough actor that he can make it sound pretty
good and almost natural but it is sloppy filmmaking of the lowest order.
When I first looked over the cast list for WORLD GONE WILD I
feared the only good actor in the bunch was going to be Dern with a few of the
smaller character roles giving some solid back up and I was mostly correct. Familiar
faces such as Julius Carry, Anthony James (as a friendly cannibal!) and good
ol' southern boy Alan Autry breathe some life into really underwritten parts.
It is a testament to their talent that those small roles are handled with
enough skill and energy that that they make a positive impression given that
the indifferent direction and poor shot composition often undermines just about
any chance at enjoying their characterizations. A great surprise was to be
found in an unexpected place though.
I did not think Adam Ant was going to be convincing as the
villain and I knew that Michael Pare is only as good onscreen as his director
and editor can allow. Usually a strong director and smart editing means a good
performance from Pare (witness STREETS OF FIRE) but without a stern taskmaster
riding herd he is a sloppy, unconvincing actor. Sadly, here Pare proves as
stiff and mildly embarrassing as is his norm but I was very surprised when our diminutive
bad guy Adam Ant actually made a huge effort to be big onscreen and damned if
he doesn't bring some fun to his part. Indeed, he adds some wonderful moments
by being charmingly evil as he works hard to sell his dastardly intentions.
On the whole I can say I'm glad to have seen this but that may be only because I'm such a sucker for 1980's Post Apocalyptic Cinema. This could have and should have been better but what is there is interesting enough to make me grin with guilty joy.
2 comments:
What are some of your favorite Italian post apocalyptic movies? Oh, by the way, have you heard Christopher Lee has passed away?
I absolutely love the wave of post-ROAD WARRIOR post apocalyptic and the Italians did the most amusing of them all. I love 2019:AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK, RATS, THE NEW GLADIATORS, 1990:THE BRONX WARRIORS, etc. But the best of the lot that few speak of isn't Italian - THE BLOOD OF HEROES -a.k.a. SALUTE OF THE JUGGER.
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