Dead-End Drive In (1986)

Director:

Brian Trenchard-Smith

Writers:

Peter Carey (story)
Peter Smalley (written by)

Release Date:

August 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

There's a party every day, a movie every night, and all the junk food you can eat. What more can a kid want... except to get out.

Plot:

In the near future, drive-in theatres are turned into concentration camps for the undesirable and unemployed...

Plot Keywords:

Drive In | Drive In Theater | Song | Tow Truck | Electric Fence

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ned Manning	...	Crabs
Natalie McCurry	...	Carmen
Peter Whitford	...	Thompson
Wilbur Wilde	...	Hazza
Dave Gibson	...	Dave
Sandie Lillingston	...	Beth
Ollie Hall	...	Frank
Lyn Collingwood	...	Fay
Nikki McWaters	...	Shirl
Melissa Davis	...	Norelie
Margi Di Ferranti	...	Jill
Desirée Smith	...	Tracey
Murray Fahey	...	Mickey
Jeremy Shadlow	...	Jeff
Brett Climo	...	Don

Also Known As:

Dead End (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

88 min | USA:92 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

New South Wales Film Corp.

Trivia:

On the audio commentary for the Region 1 DVD, director Brian Trenchard-Smith states that U.S. distributor New World Pictures originally planned to follow the example set by American International and their release of MAD MAX by issuing the movie with a new voice track featuring American performers revoicing the Australian actors. However, the dubbing turned out so poorly, the company decided to release the film with the original performances intact.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Crabs: Beauty!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: Dead-End Drive In" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Down The Road

Where has this film been all of my life?

In a typically desolate near future where the under-privileged are forced to fend for themselves in areas of total decay, Jimmy "Crabs" (likable Ned Manning) goes to the Star Drive-In with hottie girlfriend Carmen (Natalie McCurry), only to find that he's now trapped there. The powers that be are obviously trying to keep the lower class locked down and segregated, and this "drive-in" is more a prison than anything. Crabs isn't about to just accept defeat and adjust to this new life; he understandably wants *out*.

A very cool movie with outstanding art direction. Much of the landscape is graffiti-laden, and the level of bleak devastation is most impressive. The scenery is magnificently photographed in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio by Paul Murphy. The cutting edge soundtrack is full of catchy, if sometimes pure 1980's cheesy, pop and rock songs. (In fact, the hairstyles and wardrobes also firmly date the film, but this isn't always a bad thing. It certainly gave me a good blast from the past.) It may owe a certain debt to the trend-setting "Mad Max", but this Down Under sci-fi / punk / action thriller is quite good in its own right.

Director Brian Trenchard-Smith, who acknowledges that he likes to explore serious subject matter "in a wacky way", does so admirably, since this film does operate on more than one level. The social commentary is one of the highlights of the film, as we see the incredible disadvantages that have befallen the economically challenged. A new element of racism is introduced late in the film, although it never actually gets resolved. Most inspiringly, it speaks volumes about the need to be able to live ones' life on ones' own terms and not be held in check with the promise of a so-called "easy life".

Good action sequences culminate in a truly inspiring climax, which left me with a great big smile on my face, I can tell you.

A most amusing film of its kind, it's highly recommended to B movie lovers everywhere.

8/10