The Chain Reaction (1980)

Director:

Ian Barry

Writer:

Ian Barry (writer)

Release Date:

25 September 1980 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

A fast drive to Paradise turns into a nuclear nightmare !

Plot:

An earthquake in rural Australia causes a dangerous leak at WALDO, a nuclear waste storage facility...

Plot Keywords:

Nuclear | Radiation | Disaster | Valley | Nuclear Accident

Awards:

7 nominations

Cast

Steve Bisley	...	Larry
Arna-Maria Winchester	...	Carmel
Ross Thompson	...	Heinrich
Ralph Cotterill	...	Gray
Hugh Keays-Byrne	...	Eagle
Lorna Lesley	...	Gloria
Richard Moir	...	Jr. Const. Pigott
Patrick Ward	...	Oates
Laurie Moran	...	Police Sgt. McSweeney
Michael Long	...	Doctor
Bill McCluskey	...	Ralph
Margo Lloyd	...	Molly
Tim Burns	...	Survey driver
Arthur Sherman	...	Byron Langley
Barry Donnelly	...	Gateman

Also Known As:

Nuclear Run

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Norway:16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Glen Davis, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Palm Beach Pictures

Movie Connections:

Featured in Thrills and Nuclear Spills: The Making of 'The Chain Reaction' (2005) (V)

Terrific 'Mad Max' (Sort-Of) Prequel

'The Chain Reaction' was made by many of the same actors and crew who made the first - and best - 'Mad Max' movie. Although the IMDb credits don't share too many names, the style, photography and direction are so uncannily similar, that George Miller must've been more involved with 'The Chain Reaction' than just as co-producer. The two films are practically twins. Even the car-chase scenes are alike, which is good.

The plot could easily serve as a prequel to Mad Max; an accident at an Austrailian nuke disposal site out in the boonies results in catastrophic radiation leakage which will poison the area's water table. The evil corporation that owns the disposal site is trying to hush up the accident by sealing off the area, but some eco-activists have been in contact with one of the scientists at the site, and they find out about it. The scientist took a huge dose of plutonium during the accident and only has 3 days to live, but hotheaded motorhead dude Larry (played by Steve Bisley - 'The Goose' in 'Mad Max') and his wife get tangled up in the unfolding crisis...

Many of the local inhabitants appearing in 'The Chain Reaction' also played similar characters in 'Mad Max'. They don't necessarily play the exact same parts, but it is not a stretch to imagine that after the nuclear catastrophe has devastated their environment, they all evolved into the desperate characters of 'Mad Max'.

It appears (to me anyway) that 'The Chain Reaction' was filmed first, since one of the characters seems to say "It's 1977, mate...", but I'm not quite sure about this. The haircuts and clothes are definitely mid-70's, (flared jeans etc) while Mad Max has a later, more punkish late-70's look.