SPLATTERdrome

Release Date: April 12th, 1979

Director: George Miller

Screenwriter: George Miller & James McCausland

Genre: Science fiction

 

 

It's hard for me to imagine this film ever appearing futuristic to viewers. The vehicles are all late 70's models and no one uses any weapon more advanced than a shotgun. The whole "A few years from now..." intro would suggest some kind of shattered dystopian setting but I'm not seeing it on the screen. Also, why is everyone wearing leather in a hot climate? It makes watching the opening sequence feel more like a Judas Priest video than a science fiction film.

 

Director George Miller waits to reveal the origin of Max's world until the next film so, for the moment, let's speculate wildly. I think it's a commentary on proper waste management. Miller is afraid that neglecting our global recycling programs will transform the earth into mile after mile of disused Australian highway. There will be ice cream and bananas but no fast food or baggy pants. What a nightmare.

 

Mad Max reveals itself to be an updated revenge western. A violent gang rolls into town and catches our hero's attention by roughing up a few locals. Blood is spilled on both sides and before long we have cops and robbers dominating otherwise empty stretches of highway. Honestly, doesn't anyone else have a car? Aside from the opening scene no one is using the roads unless actively involved in a high speed chase. Maybe in the future there are long expanses of freeway designated only for that purpose like some kind of homicidal carpool lane.

 

It's easy to see that Miller was more ambitious with his film than 1979 could reasonably accommodate. The concepts he's aiming to create on screen were far bigger than his budget and many years out of reach visually. It would seem that his 2015 re-imagining Mad Max: Fury Road was more of what he had in mind.

 

For all its forward thinking Mad Max is also colored by some very bad editing and post-production work, both forgiveable offenses for a first time director. These imperfections are balanced out nicely by the wonderfully random appearance of birds, a child named Sprog, and the glorious eccentricities of the Toecutter. Hugh Keays-Byrne is outstanding in this role but the reckless nature of the character is diminished slightly when he hisses like a jungle cat before fleeing a confrontation. I laughed out loud but it only made me love him more.

 

Much like The Fast & The Furious, a franchise Mad Max likely inspired, I'm blown away by the success this film has enjoyed. Violence, sex, and car crashes are the primary draws and it seems people are still eager to pay $8 to see them on screen. It feels like a high price considering that doesn't even include concessions.

 

Just give me a sip of your soda, I'll be waiting in the car.