Turkey Shoot (1982)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Brian Trenchard-Smith

Writers:

Jon George (writer)
Neill D. Hicks (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Hunting is the national sport...and people are the prey!

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Survival | Future | Society | Prisoner | Most Dangerous Game

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

Directed by
Brian Trenchard-Smith

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jon George		writer
Neill D. Hicks		writer
David Lawrence		story
George Schenck		story
Robert Williams		story

Produced by
Brian W. Cook	....	associate producer
John Daly	....	executive producer
William Fayman	....	producer
Antony I. Ginnane	....	producer
David Hemmings	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Brian May

Cinematography by
John R. McLean

Film Editing by
Alan Lake

Production Design by
Bernard Hides

Art Direction by
Virginia Bieneman

Costume Design by
Aphrodite Kondos

Makeup Department
Bob McCarron	....	makeup artist
Bob McCarron	....	special makeup artist
Maureen Wroe-Johnson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Michael Fuller	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Jaffee	....	third assistant director
Terry Needham	....	first assistant director
John Rooke	....	second assistant director
David Hemmings	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Adrian Cannon	....	property master
Paul Dulieu	....	property master
Billy Malcolm	....	scenic artist
David Price	....	special property maker
Ted Price	....	special property maker

Sound Department
Paul Clark	....	sound recordist
Peter Fenton	....	sound mixer
Lee Smith	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
John Stears	....	special effects
Brian Cox	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Stunts
Glenn Boswell	....	stunts (as Glen Boswell)
Richard Boué	....	stunts (as Richard Boue)
Zev Eleftheriou	....	stunts
Kerry Rossall	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
David Brostoff	....	focus puller
David Burr	....	camera operator
Ian Dewhurst	....	gaffer
Bob Hughes	....	unit cinematographer
Grahame Litchfield	....	key grip
Colin Williams	....	best boy

Editorial Department
Karen Foster	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Jennifer Barty	....	production secretary
Bill Gooley	....	lab liaison
Therese O'Leary	....	continuity

Production Companies

• FGH
• Filmco Limited
• Hemdale Film

Distributors

• New World Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Nelson Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Ciné Paris Distribution (1983) (France) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Home Video (Australia)
• Video Instant Picture Company (VIPCO)

Also Known As:

Blood Camp Thatcher (UK) (video title)
Escape 2000 (USA)

Runtime:

93 min | USA:80 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:(Banned) | Finland:K-18 (cut) | New Zealand:R18 (re rating) | Australia:M | France:-16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:(Banned) (1982-2003) (cinema release) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Company:

FGH

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!'

Movie Connections:

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

Target practice.

Set in the near future, the world is dominated by a strictly malevolent society that throws 'social deviants' who don't conform with these rules into maximum-security behaviour modification camps. The latest arrivals to the camp warden Thatcher's terror camp are the spirited fighter Paul Anders, the uneasy Chris Walters and the game Rita Daniels. Things are tough going and gruelling cruel, but they are given a chance of freedom. That's if they take part in a survival hunt called the "Turkey Shoot", where they would be released if they survive the twenty-four hours.

The Australian production "Turkey Shoot" was a complete hoot (or for some a shocker)! This unsparingly cheapjack action exploitation crossed horror / sci-fi fare only has one thing on mind - crass entertainment. Everything about it is on the fast track and there's hardly any thought of letting up. Despite being a ultra-campy and sadistically violent variant of "The Most Dangerous Game" and George Orwell's "1984" theme, the deranged premise is downright silly as they seem play it straight. There's nothing really to work off it as it rather one-dimensional material. The cheekily black subject matter isn't much of a satire (which from the original script sounded like it could've been), but its hokey dialogues, ghastly splatter and outrageously impulsive actions make this schlock highly watchable. Especially one worthy head explosion!

The array of performances were suitable for this type of film. Olivia Hussy looks mopish, but definitely petrified (she wasn't just acting if you watch the DVD extras), but fits the bill. Steve Railsback is rather intense in the heroine role and buxom Lynda Stoner makes the most out of her character. A classy Michael Craig is strikingly serviceable as the strenuously cold-blooded camp warden Thatcher. Roger Ward is superb as the devilishly brutal right hand Chief Guard Ritter and Carmen Duncan is terrifically vindictive with that crossbow as one of bloodthirsty hunters. Noel Ferrier, Bill Young and a twitchy John Ley make up the rest of the support cast. Director Brian Trenchard-Smith boldly goes all out and throws caution to the wind with snappy pacing, truck-load of pyrotechnics and flair to boot. He does an exceptional job with the hassles and pressures that shaped and lurked on this hazarded product. The picture perfect location (shot in the North Queensland) of the vast sprawling landscape adds another element to the mixture and Brian May's uncannily throbbing electronic music score gels with on-going scenes and moods.

Hearing all the troubles that disrupted this project (like budget chops, the film's production time being cut short, the opening part of script being erased and uncomfortable actors) it could have been some thing of decent quality. Anyhow you can only do with what you got and its welcoming trash that's not trying to be anything else. That's the best way to take this diverting turkey.