Radioactive Dreams (1985)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Albert Pyun

Writer:

Albert Pyun (written by)

Release Date:

19 September 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

A world of guilty pleasures.

Plot:

After an atomic war Phillip Hammer and Marlowe Chandler have spent 15 years on their own in an bunker...

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Greasers | Disco | Hippie | Satire

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

John Stockwell	...	Phillip Chandler
Michael Dudikoff	...	Marlowe Hammer
Lisa Blount	...	Miles Archer
George Kennedy	...	Spade Chandler
Don Murray	...	Dash Hammer
Michele Little	...	Rusty Mars
Norbert Weisser	...	Sternwood
Paul Keller Galan	...	Harold
Demian Slade	...	Chester
Christian Andrews	...	Brick Bardo
Hilary Shepard	...	Biker Leader (as Hilary Shapiro)
Sue Saad	...	Punk District Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robin Arcuri	...	Jennifer
Dana Sue Collins	...	Leader of the heavy metal rockers
Glory Fioramonti	...	Biker #2
Eve Muller	...	Hippie Chick
Eve Muller	...	Hippie Chick
Reni Santoni	...	'Red' Hairstylist
Smith Wordes	...	Dancer

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA | Mexico

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Singapore:PG (cut) | West Germany:16 (nf)

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Quotes:

Phillip Chandler: Like Phillip Marlowe, we now saw the world for what it was: cold and bitter. Sad thing was, me and Marlowe had become infected by the disease. We were angry and vengeful and all we wanted to do was get back at the world, to make 'em all pay for what they'd done to us.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Mad Max 2 (1981)

Soundtrack:

Nightmare

Missed opportunities, but destined for weak cult fame. (minor spoilers)

Radioactive Dreams is comparable to both 'My Science Project' and 'City Limits,' two dirt-budget science fiction films with great ideas and a decent cast unfortunately trampled by a nickle-shooting budget. Ironically, they all starred or co-starred John Stockwell.

Granted, Radioactive Dreams, was at least an interesting plot (which is the only reason I gave it a 2-star rating). Two idyllic young men not coincidentally named Phillip and Marlowe (Stockwell and Dudikoff) abandoned by their fathers grow up in a bomb shelter following the nuclear destruction of their planet, decide it's time to leave the shelter and live out their 1950s comic-book inspired fantasy of being two of the greatest private detectives (which of course, lends to a running gag). Only, when they get outside, their idealism is quickly floundered when their chivalrous assistance of a young girl chased by nuclear mutants inadvertently leads to dangerous and disastrous flirtations with the 'darkside.' The girl, as it turns out, leaves them custody of a pair of highly-sought keys that control a nuclear missile (ironically) and thus, like Sam and Frodo in Lord of the Rings, they've got to keep these keys from getting in the wrong hands. And that sure ain't easy.

Unfortunately, for the most part, the execution is crap. It involves a lot of warehouse footage, bad acting (especially an abundance of girlish screams from Dudikoff), cheap effects, a sappy ending involving a little-expected parental reunion, and a longer-than-necessary finale. The mid-80s atmosphere could have provided all the necessary spunk and attitude that would have provided the perfect touch to a unique story as this (Phillip and Marlowe are not the only ones trapped in a cultural generation of their own...I particularly love the deadly disco kids a penchant for cursing), but once again, a scrap shooting budget posed lots of limitations not to mention.

Worth it a shot at least for the story, but otherwise, it's about the same muddle film as City Limits (though certainly not as bad). Of the three films mentioned, however, I would recommend watching 'My Science Project,' instead.