Classic Review: The Andromeda Strain (1971)

The works of Michael Crichton have always inspired classic movies with cult followings. The 1971 film adaptation of his novel The Andromeda Strain is vastly superior to the tacky and forgettable 2008 miniseries. When the capsule of the Scoop Mission returns to Earth and lands in the small town of Piedmont, it brings a mutant living being; the source of all the towns populations deaths. A team of five scientists – the leader Dr. Jeremy Stone, Dr. Charles Dutton, Dr. Mark Hall, Dr. Ruth Leavitt and Dr. Kirkie – are gathered together in the top secret Wildfire facility. Fighting against time, they try to understand the reason why the only survivors of the town are uninfected and research an antidote to Andromeda, the ultimate biological weapon.

The director successfully achieved an unsettling ticking clock feel as the scientist struggle to find an antidote to the deadly Andromeda Strain. The sets are used beautifully alongside the classic props of the genera; the Scoop Mission capsule is a fantastic example of good art direction in a time when physically making something extraordinary was crucial to a films success.

 

The Andromeda Strain is one of those cult classics that filmmakers of today are still using as inspiration and homaging.

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Classic Trailer: Soylent Green (1973)

"What is the secret of Soylent Green?" The cat might be out of the bag on that one but this sci-fi is still an amazing classic.

Classic Review: The Girl From Starship Venus (1975)

A trashy but classic sex fantasy about a creature from another galaxy that transforms itself into a voluptuous woman in order fully to understand human ways and emotions. The film is essential a softcore porno foreshadowing the popular 90s film Species. 

It seems that the only thing that these aliesn know of Earth is a pretty good grasp of the English language, but nothing of the basic rules of society. The comedy comes from the rather oblivious, but good natured, observations of Earth society by The Surveyor. She knows nothing of the concepts of clothing, food, time, or sex. She has no emotions and has no physical senses to speak of, besides her sense of sight. The Soho district in London at this time was like Times Square in New York, an area heavily populated with porn theaters and adult book stores, so The Surveyor, and her robotic demeanor, falls headlong into an atmosphere of sexploration. But her adventures are not completely sexual in nature. The destinations of The Surveyor include, along with a visit to both a porn movie theater and an adult bookshop, a visit to a laundromat where she meets an old lady and learns of the inevitability of aging in the Doms. While there, she meets up with a nice man, a Good Samaritan of sorts, who offers her a place to sleep for the night. The Surveyor also ends up at a wedding and hooks up with a guy there, with less than erotic results.

The Girl From Starship Venus is one of those classic films with a unique visual style that is reminiscent of the era. You know you're in for a good fun time when the films tag line makes use of the childish humor of the number 69.

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Classic Review: Turkey Shoot (1982)

Turkey Shoot is a classic Australian film released in 1982. The film takes place in a dystopian future and is a great example of Australian exploitation cinema. The film was directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith and is full of the kind of carnage one would expect to see in a cult classic of this era. Turkey Shoot was produced during the Australian film tax exemption scheme and was among a number of great films to be born from pure imagination and free range that caught audiences attention with blood, gore and women. It is a true cult classic and masterfully captures Australian culture. The cast was a mix of international actors and Australian soap opera stars and television personalities. At the time it was labeled as "easily the cheapest and nastiest piece of mainstream celluloid ever stitched together by our [Australia's] mad cinematic scientists." Turkey Shoot ruffled a great many feathers in the main stream media as it was notable for its extreme violence and sadistic prison sequences. The plot resolved around a totalitarian near future where 'social deviants' were sent to prison camps for re-education and behaviour modification.

The new arrivals at Camp 47 are Chris Walters (Olivia Hussey), a shopkeeper accused of helping a rebel; Rita Daniels (Lynda Stoner), a suspected sex worker; and Paul Anders (Steve Railsback), a dissident who has escaped from several other camps. After suffering brutal treatment at the hands of Camp Master Charles Thatcher (Michael Craig) and his chief enforcer, Ritter (Roger Ward), the prisoners accept a deadly deal. However they soon find themselves the prey in a 'turkey shoot' that Thatcher has organised for Secretary Mallory (Noel Ferrier), and VIPs Jennifer (Carmen Duncan) and Tito (Michael Petrovich). If they can evade the heavily armed guests in the surrounding jungle until sundown, Chris, Rita and Paul will be set free. As the 'turkey shoot' progresses, the tables are turned and the prisoners become the hunters culminating in a free for all showdown to the death.

The film is a great example of the freedom Australian filmmakers were allowed to get away with. Using tax payer money to fund something so violent, sexists and down right wrong somehow makes it all alright. Australia makes far less films these days and none will ever take as great a risk as Turkey Shoot. This film is by far one of the rear gems that birthed from a time where Australian film making produced a wide range of cinema classics. Turkey Shoot is a must see for any Australian and for anyone who loves a good bloody action film.

Turkey Shoot has great effects and a classic story. Four stars out of five.

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