Death Warmed Up (1984)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

David Blyth

Writers:

David Blyth (writer)
Michael Heath (writer)

Release Date:

1 February 1986 (Japan)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

I'll get you, I'll get you all.

Plot:

A kid is hypnotized by a scientist to kill his parents and ends in a mental institution. As a grown up he returns to seek revenge over the scientist.

Plot Keywords:

Zombie | Futuristic | Independent Film

Cast

Michael Hurst	...	Michael Tucker
Margaret Umbers	...	Sandy
William Upjohn	...	Lucas
Norelle Scott	...	Jeannie
David Letch	...	Spider
Geoff Snell	...	Jannings
Gary Day	...	Dr. Archer Howell
Bruno Lawrence	...	Tex
Ian Watkin	...	Bill
David Weatherley	...	Professor Tucker
Tina Grenville	...	Netty Tucker
Nathaniel Lees	...	Jackson
Karam Hau	...	Berry
Jonathan Hardy	...	Ranji Gandhi
Norman Fairley	...	Barman

Also Known As:

Death Warmed Over (USA)

Runtime:

UK:78 min | New Zealand:85 min

Country:

Australia | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:VM18 (VHS rating) | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | UK:18 | West Germany:18 | Iceland:(Banned) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: At the beginning of the movie, when Michael’s mother and father are watching the news in their bedroom.

"Something bloody weird going on, mate."

So says one of the characters in this odd little number from New Zealand. It took me a little while to realise that the leading man was played by the same Michael Hurst, who is better known for playing Iolaus in the long running Hercules TV series.

There seem to be a myriad of other films that this one has either borrowed from of been influenced by. Mad Max, Night (and Dawn)of the living Dead, Island of Dr Moreau or any other mad scientist movie. The actual story structure is somewhat disjointed, as we never really find out why the mad doctor wants to transform ordinary men into 'demented mutated killing machines.' Is there a world wide shortage of demented mutated killing machines? I don't think so if the news is anything to go by.

It does make sense that he does programme our hero to kill his parents who are standing in the way of his experiments but why let him live afterwards to come back for revenge? The whole island laboratory to do his crazed work on is straight out of 'Dr. No.' But with less sense or reason.

Not totally explained why the hero turns up on holiday with his friends after been released from the insane asylum, just happens to be the same island where his nemesis resides.

But enough of sense and logic, the actual film is decent watching and holds the interest till the end and at around 75 minutes on the DVD I saw, it doesn't outstay it's welcome. Plenty of gore scenes for those who like that stuff, maybe the villain just liked doing brain work as his motive for it all.

The ending is rather pointless as my fellow reviewer pointed out and it does seem they just ran out of ideas and decided to go out on a supposed shock ending.

Just two last points to make, there was a Pakistani shopkeeper who was a very bad racial stereotype and there for 'comicial' effect. Not sure if it wasn't a white actor blacked up either, it was that unpleasant.

Also at the beginning when he is supposed to be younger and running around in short trousers, he just looks ridiculous. I know Michael Hurst isn't the tallest bloke around but he just looks like an overgrown schoolboy or the lead singer in AC/DC. And there are gay overtones when he is in the shower afterwards as well but that plot line is just left hanging.

Overall, a strange but otherwise interesting film.