After the worldwide success of George Miller's Mad Max it was inevitable that a swathe of grungy, punky, near-future SF flicks would appear to cash in. Australia. of course, had to have a go at this and one result was this film. This is where it all came together for Brain Trenchard-Smith - undeniably his masterpiece. A superb story, good script, excellent casting and fantastic look all gel to provide a magnificent slice of SF exploitation.
The inspired story concerns run down drive in cinemas being used to attract and imprison society's "less desirable" elements. Concentration camps with burgers and cola, ready drugs and evening screenings of...well...Australian exploitation films! The film expertly depicts how this situation wins over most of the apathetic underclass thus imprisoned until they just accept their fate. Not so our hero, a superb turn from Ned Manning as an at first easy-going, nervous, under-sized bloke who loathes his internment and finds ways to fight the machine and hopefully escape.
This is extremely well done and thoroughly engrossing from the off. Trenchard-Smith paints a convincing view of Australia in collapse as first unemployed layabouts, then Asian immigrants are blamed for society's fall and each group is locked in the drive-in, with the resultant explosion in racist reaction from the thugs and punks who see their microcosmic drive-in as "home".
See this film. It's that simple. It is well made (excellent 'scope photography from Paul Murphy), thought provoking and utterly enjoyable. A clear highpoint of Australian cult film-making...indeed, Australian film-making generally.
great review, personally i love this film and have recommended it to loads of people
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