Escape 2000 (1982)
"Turkey Shoot" (original title)

Deviants are held at a rehabilitation fortress until they're set into a deadly game of survival, in the hopes of returning to world society.

Director:

Brian Trenchard-Smith

Writers:

Jon George (screenplay), Neill D. Hicks (screenplay),

Stars:

Steve Railsback, Olivia Hussey, Michael Craig

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Steve Railsback	...	Paul Anders
Olivia Hussey	...	Chris Walters
Michael Craig	...	Charles Thatcher
Carmen Duncan	...	Jennifer
Noel Ferrier	...	Secretary Mallory
Lynda Stoner	...	Rita Daniels
Roger Ward	...	Chief Guard Ritter
Michael Petrovitch	...	Tito
Gus Mercurio	...	Red
John Ley	...	Dodge
Bill Young	...	Griff
Steve Rackman	...	Alph
John Godden	...	Andy
Oriana Panozzo	...	Melinda

Storyline

In the near future, after an unspecified holocaust, survivors are herded into prison camps. There, they are hunted for sport by the leaders of the camp. Paul, one of the newest prisoners, is determined not to go down as quietly as the others.

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Plot Keywords:

prisoner | survival | future | shot point blank | exploding head | 

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Taglines:

The day the future had to be stopped.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape 2000

Filming Locations:

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$3,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

FGH, Filmco Limited, Hemdale Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Michael Craig's head-of-prison-camp character Charles Thatcher was named after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

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Goofs

Stage hand visible fanning flames during the final tracking shot of the brushfire (2.35:1 version only).

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Quotes

Charles Thatcher: One of you has been foolish enough to try to leave us before his re-education was completed. In my view this is treason, and will be treated as such. You will remember our motto: 'Freedom is obedience, obedience is work, work is life'. Well, now understand once and for all that the reverse is also true, 'Disobedience is treason, treason is a crime, crime will be punished!'

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Connections

Referenced in A Good Soldier (2003)

User Reviews

Turkey or THE great lost Aussie dystopic b-grade classic?

'Turkey Shoot' makes me proud to be an Aussie! There is something so gloriously stupid and cheesy about this movie that it utterly fascinates me!

Set in a future police state, the movie begins with three new prisoners being taken to a "rehabilitation" centre. They are Steve Railsback ('Helter Skelter', 'The Stunt Man'), Olivia Hussey (Zeffirelli's 'Romeo and Juliet'), and Lynda Stoner (err, 'Cop Shop'). The place, of course, is a seething hot bed of brutality, sexual frustration and yellow jump-suits. Pretty quickly we find out that our three newcomers are going to be hunted for sport by the Camp's leader, the enigmatic Thatcher, his sadistic colleagues, and a werewolf in a dune buggy.

I won't say any more as to not spoil your enjoyment of this long forgotten sci fi thriller. Australians will get more out of it than other viewers, as they will fully appreciate the supporting cast of soap stars, 70s TV personalities, and at least two 'Mad Max' actors. In fact, I cannot go without singling out the unknown, unsung hero of Australian cinema, Bill Young, who plays Griff here, and was also in another underrated Aussie trash classic 'Body Melt', AND 'The Matrix' AND 'Chopper'! If this guy has a fan club, sign me up!

'Turkey Shoot' - If you haven't seen this one you just don't know what you're missing!