Mutant Hunt (1987 Video) User Reviews

Tim Kincaid strikes again.

[Hey_Sweden · 5/10 · 12 February 2015]

It's cheap and cheesy genre time with the no-talent independent filmmaker, who stumbles his way through this supposed "Blade Runner" riff. In the "future", mutant cyborgs are being injected with a special drug by evil, world domination minded scientist Z (Bill Peterson). The only man who can even try to put an end to Z's diabolical plan is mercenary / mutant hunter for hire Matt Riker (Rick Gianasi). Of course, Matt will get by with a little help from his friends, Johnny Felix (Ron Reynaldi) and Elaine Eliot (Taunie Vrenon).

The special effects and makeup are, surprisingly, not that bad, all things considered. Ed French created a puppet cyborg head that is pretty cool - and which does give the best performance in the movie! Everyone else is varying degrees of dull. Thankfully, the attractive female cast makes things worth enduring, especially Ms. Vrenon, who has an alternate job as an exotic dancer. The insistent pop music score helps to move things along adequately, no matter if the bulk of this production is inept from beginning to end. The fight scenes are somewhat less than exciting, and not exactly directed with much zeal. Kincaids' script is talky and inane.

Of course, who chooses to watch something titled "Mutant Hunt" and expects anything different? Truth be told, this viewer would still rather watch stuff like this than a lot of the mega budget crud churned out by Hollywood. At only 74 minutes long, this harmless bit of nonsense goes on no longer than it should.

Five out of 10.

Hunt for This One at Your Own Risk

[rcoates-661-22249 · 5/10 · 15 January 2011]

Mutant Hunt is a movie I've wanted to see ever since learning of its existence - admit it, the title is irresistible - only, of course, to be disappointed by what a turd it inevitably turned out to be. From Tim Kincaid and the team behind Breeders, this follow-up fails to live up to the already low expectations aroused by that tacky but fun exercise in sci-fi cheesecake. Where Breeders was dopey, decently paced, and filled with quality nudity, Mutant Hunt is dopey, dull, and just barely weird enough to keep it from being a total waste of time.

The script is lame, the fights are drab, the heroes have all the charisma of musclebound Ben Steins, and after the goofy energy of the opening scenes, Mutant Hunt sags into an apparent indifference to itself, droning along and tugging at the poor viewer's patience until the 76 minutes feel more like 120.

Saving this one from utter abomination, thankfully, are the unintentional humor and gooey effects attendant upon the pack of cheap, zombie-like titular creatures, who are actually lumbering Terminatoresque cyborgs on dope that supposedly makes them sex maniacs, though this aspect of their villainy is never really exploited. They're slimy and fairly disgusting to look at, which is nice, but I did find myself wishing the plot and porno-level budget had given them more in the way of havoc to wreak.

Blade runner for "special" viewers

[bernhard_alund · 3/10 · 26 November 2013]

The film was created on next to no budget by an infamous director/writer/producer of adult pornography. Watching the fashion and mustaches on the male cast that last thing might not be that much of a surprise but what surprises me the most is the ego of the production team. If you have no money and hardly any skills in filmmaking then you might get away with creating a sleazy slasher at most. This film takes it inspiration from epic films like Bladerunner but fails fails in nearly every department, fails HARD. Awful settings, uninspired wardrobes (except for Domina's), no logical plot, weird fight scenes, laughable "inventions" and utterly useless cyborgs that look like failed EBM musicians and act like stiff zombies.

Bladerunner had its following of low-budget cyberpunk copycats and a lot of them actually succeeded with delivering a somewhat engaging story (Robotrix for instance) so this film can't really get away with it just because of finances. If I were to cut it some slacks then it has to be the effect and gore. I am especially thinking about the decaying cyborgs that are skillfully done with both stop-motion and makeup.

80's gore at its best, B-Movies at their worst

[ecto216 · 2/10 · 18 March 2003]

What in the name of God did I just witness? For anyone who is wondering if they should watch this movie (all 2 of you), leave it on the shelf unless you are planning on becoming a makeup artist. Let me explain. The story goes like this: Some evil woman is in this battle with some evil guy. Why? I don't know. This battle involves mutants/cyborgs. Why? I don't know. A foursome of heroes meet up with each other in hopes to disband the evil mutant army. Why? I don't know. They fight the mutants who seems to keep coming back to life and murdering civilians. Why? I don't know!!!

So here's the scoop: Either I'm an idiot who just didn't pay attention to this movie or this movie has absolutely no plot. This film is nothing more than a string of events strung together with cheesy music that sounds like something out of a homemade porno film and sound effects so bad, that they sound as if they were generated by someone slapping their hand against their knee and breaking some eggs on the kitchen floor.

The only saving grace of this film is the gore and makeup. This horrible picture really shows what the 80's horror genre was capable of when it comes to the blood factor. Some great stuff in here that still leaves me in shock of how it was pulled off, especially the mutant that helps the good guy; some great scenes with him. But otherwise, why bother with this crappy flick? The movie itself gets a 0 out of 10, but because of the gore and good f/x I'm giving it an overall 2/10.

I know the truth!

[udar55 · 2/10 · 15 December 2005]

Some claim this is a BLADE RUNNER ripoff but I know the truth. In the distant future, failed filmmaker Ridley Scott built a time machine and decided to go back in time to film MUTANT HUNT, what many in this future consider the greatest film of all-time, before it is actually made. His plan worked and BLADE RUNNER hit in 82 while MUTANT HUNT's legacy was muted because it was seen a ripoff.

Seriously, what can one say about this classic? It is indicative of a cinematic time long gone, the era of cheapo sci-fi flicks shot in abandoned warehouses (the future!) on a 5-day shooting schedule (see also: Ray, Fred Olen). I'm glad to know that in the future cyborgs will be modeled after the band Devo. Tim Kincaid directs this as flatly as possible. I love the fight in Riker's apartment where the girls just sit and stand there. I also love the bit where the robot begins to severe its left hand. When the filmmakers cut to the hand hanging in the cuff, it is a right hand! And who can ever forget the couple making out in the alley? Awesome. To the film's credit, Ed French's cyborg puppet head is pretty impressive and actually emotes better than 3/4 of the cast. After watching this 75 minute insanity fest, the only natural thing to ask is, "What Kincaid film should I watch next?"

Razor-to-wrist sci-fi farrago with zero "raison d'etre".

[EyeAskance · 6 April 2004]

Presented by Tim Kincaid, a pornographer and director of the anticlassic ROBOT HOLOCAUST, so be ready for sub-zero quality garbage without any production values. In this story, a number of cyborgs have been introduced to some sort of narcotic which turns them into unstoppable machines of destruction. To the rescue comes Ryker(a name too obviously selected from the nomenclature of action heroes and gay porn actors). His daring mission is to hunt these dope-tripping 'borgs down before they wreck every cheap Styrofoam and cardboard prop in their path.

This flick borrows heavily from BLADERUNNER, but don't even attempt quality comparisons...this is easily among the weakest sci-fi efforts of the 1980s(even though ROBOT HOLOCAUST is, in fact, worse, improvements made in this mess are as observable as a contact lens in the ocean).

Cosmically bad in every direction, therefore recommended to masochistic types. 3/10

Not bad enough to be good

[ejonconrad · 1/10 · 25 October 2010]

At the dawn of the direct to video market, Tim Kincaid took a break from making pornography to try his hand at being Ed Wood (who, come to think of it, also made pornography). Anyway, a couple of his efforts, "Breeders" and "Bad Girls Dormitory", have left a lasting impression with - well- the sort of people who watch that sort of movie.

This movie can be best compared to Kincaid's other movie "Robot Holocaust", his attempt at a post-apocalyptic action film. However, whereas the latter is so hilariously bad that it's fun to watch even without the MST3K comments, this movie is just bad in a lame 80's sort of way - right down to the pounding synthesizer soundtrack that has you wondering when the aerobics class is going to start.

Yes, there are a few comically bad scenes. For example, why does a "mercenary" adorn his apartment with every weapon every made - except a loaded gun? But they're few and far between. Mostly, it's just boring.

Not worth the time, even to make fun of it.

Box Art Better Than Movie

[Captain_Obviuos · 2/10 · 21 June 2015]

I watched this specifically to see a cyborg dude with a super-stretched mechanical arm hold a guy in a radiation suit aloft by his throat, while cowering underneath them a rather voluptuous woman in another rad suit lay prone in a spotlight.

Sadly, this scene never occurred.

A true triumph in how to make utter crap.

[el_monzo · 1/10 · 27 October 2000]

Gee, where to start... Well, first, this movie is awful. From the very start, it is apparent that what is about to follow is going to be a true offence on the viewers intelligence. From the cheesy music to the horrendously bad acting, it is amazing that the film ever got made. Its main protagonist is the character Matt Riker, a mercenary for hire. The actor playing him ( of who's name I thankfully can't recall) is easily the worst actor I've ever seen. At many points you can see him reading his lines off a card behind the camera, and what's worse, for the whole first ten minutes of the movie, he gets around only in a bad pair of white underpants. The story follows a bunch of cyborgs, who due to a heavy intake of some drug, go insane and start killing people for pleasure (obviously). The cyborgs themselves are just a bunch of terribly stiff beefcakes in gymsuits, and are as convincing as they are menacing (ie not at all). Matt Riker and his band of comrades must track them down and destroy them, before they kill again. The continuity is appaling, the cheesy 80's synthesized keyboard music stinks, every actor is a joke, and the story fails to impress. In short, the whole package is a complete dud. I heartily recommend checking this one out if not merely for a glimpse of what I believe is possibly the worst movie ever made.

So bad, it's good.

[navvidrastegarnejad · 2/10 · 4 April 2021]

Classic 80's imagery, lots of cheesy gore and quite possibly the worst fight scenes ever filmed.

All in all, it was a laurf.

I'm a proud owner of Mutant Hunt on VHS

[jorgefromthefuture · 2/10 · 5 October 2020]

What can I say? This is one of my favorite 80's sci-fi wrecks (notably, it seems to have been at least partially filmed at the Brooklyn Army Terminal). It is hilariously bad.

Have some friends over, pass out some stiff drinks, and enjoy some laughs at this insane mashup of nonsense, violence, and puerile absurdity. A technical failure in practically every respect, in my opinion it veers completely into the lane of unintentional comedy, which makes it well worth watching to fans of B-movies.

A choice chunk of 80's sci-fi trash

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 19 January 2015]

Rough'n'tumble mercenary Matt Riker (woodenly played by the hunky Rick Gianasi) and his tough mutant-stomping buddies Johnny Felix (Ron Reynaldi rocking one hell of a wicked mullet) and Elaine Eliot (ravishing redhead Taunie Vernon) venture into the dangerous dark tunnels to find the secret lab of the dastardly Z (a nicely slimy portrayal by Bill Peterson), who's responsible for unleashing a race of lethal cyborgs that are terrorizing the city.

Boy, does writer/director Tim Kincaid cover all the endearingly atrocious mondo stinko schlock cinema bases with often unintentionally uproarious results: We've got crummy acting from a lame no-name cast (Stormy Spill in particular really camps it up as Z's evil and treacherous ex-partner Domina), erratic pacing, a mechanically bouncy and redundant synthesizer score, garish cinematography, tin-eared dialogue ("Time to rock'n'roll"), ineptly staged fights, an utterly ridiculous plot, and tacky (not so) special effects (although the gooey cyborg make-up ain't half bad and the cyborg puppet is pretty impressive considering the paltry budget). Kincaid regular LeeAnn Baker pops up in a small part as an ill-fated pleasure droid. A hilariously horrendous hoot and a half.

The Filmmakers Are Having Fun, Peoples!!!!!!

[DavyDissonance · 6/10 · 15 January 2018]

Mutant Hunt is about some alien virus infecting these cyborgs and then everything becomes meaningless. I'm jumping on the bandwagon in terms of agreement upon the film's retardation. The story is non-sensical, the fights are just so dildo-like, the acting is trying and embarrassingly failing and so forth. But to hell with y'all, I like this piece of moronic $#!+. Why? I just have an affinity for stupid z-movie cyberpunk movies. So up yours.

This is one of those movies worth watching that isn't good

[kevin_robbins · 3/10 · 16 February 2022]

Mutant Hunt (1987) is a movie I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows a futuristic society where cyborgs are a part of society for various tasks. A group finds a way to turn the cyborgs into killers to do their bidding. One day the cyborgs kill the wrong man leading to his daughter seeking out an old military friend of her fathers to hunt down the people responsible for the killer cyborgs and bring them to justice.

This movie is directed by Tim Kincaid (Breeders) and stars Rick Gianasi (The Occultist), Mary Fahey (Riot on 42nd Street), Ron Reynaldi (Mankillers) and Adriane Lee (Breeders).

The script, acting and fight scenes are absolutely awful. The mutant guns are funny and the special effects are more fun than good. There are some special effects better than others, the arm stretches are laughable but the hand cut off scene was entertaining. I will say there's a robot/man scene in the ally that's well done. The storyline felt like an excuse to make a movie rather than a reason to make a movie.

Overall this is one of those movies worth watching that isn't good. I would score this a 2.5/10 but recommend seeing it once.

For fans of the worst movies out there

[one4now4 · 24 October 2003]

If you watch this to see a great movie, you are sadly mistaken. I know from experience that if you see Tim Kincaid's name on the box, you aren't going to find anything close. Still, this would definitely be a treat to schlock fans of the dumbest movies ever made, and, in their case, I'm surprised a group of these loveable weirdos haven't crowned this one as a cult classic yet. I would like to point out, though, that this movie is not as gory as the box makes it out to be. There are only a few good splattery moments (my favorite being the cyborg hacking his own hand off). Otherwise, this is only a horror movie by the most technical standards, meaning that it's as much of a horror movie as "C.H.U.D. 2". "Mutant Hunt" is more along the lines of a brainless sci-fi actioner. Is "Mutant Hunt" enjoyable? Yes, depending on how cheezy you like your movies, which this is to the max. By the way, TROMA FANS, ATTENTION: The guy playing the main hero in this is Rick Gianasi of "Sgt. Kabukiman, N.Y.P.D." infamy.

is it 80's ? ...yes ...yes it is .....

[godinamachine · 8/10 · 15 May 2023]

HEY EVERYBODY ITS ME , (4) ... and today we review ... terminator part 17 the prequel ...

one of the classic "cyborg" films of the 80s ....following the success of the terminator in 1984 EVERYONE wanted in on that big meaty metal pie ...so everyone tried to get a piece or at least get a bite while it was hot .....so we get films like this ...SO SO many others too of course but ...this ...

now i , as so many ofyou out there loved these films growing up ,..... action ... robot people ..... and more action ... maybe some boobs ...awesome !!!! Now re-watching it .... i realized ......yea its still awesome in the 80s kind of way ....

so the review part ....WELL .... the choreography was obviously done by a drunk toddler in slo motion ... the writing ....probably as well .... the acting ...well obviously the yare adults so .... well maybe they all attended "jimmy the drunk toddlers acting for adults " classes ....because ...well ..i mean just watch it .... and the editing ...WHAT ?!?!?!? ... so ... the main group splits up .... the darla chick or whatever her name is last seen fine ....then like 20 minutes later shes in the shower and a dead robot guy is melting out side her door ? Huh ? ...whered he come from ? Last the two guys said there was ony 2 cyborgs left and they just k!lled one and the other guy is fighting the other one ...so whos this one and why is he melted out side her bathroom door ? ..was there an entire fight scene cut here ???? ORRRRR did jimmy the alcoholic toddler also edit the film ... now i know they DO explain it like 5 seconds later BUT at that time its a wreck and also IF they can reassemble themselves then ....i mean ... all of the ones before are able to just keep coming back ? ...consistency here people ....

and lets be honest here these are the WORST k!llbots ever created .... supposed to be unstoppable etc .. LOL ... a couple of randos beat all of them up easy ........ so i mean really what armies will want those bots or drugs for their own bots to try and make an army ? ....

BUT as for FX ...NICE they went hard with the gore bot look ....also bad job for the blue magic marker on the one dudes back lol.......

all and all ..... for the 80s .......perfect ........or well ... close enough

80's/10.

Good sci-fi thriller

[zombieoutbreak-74199 · 7/10 · 18 February 2021]

If you're interested in low budget sci-fi's then this is the perfect film for you. It may not be the best film but it still has its moments! If you're a sucker for cheesy flicks and cheap thrills than Mutant Hunt will deliver!

Apparently, Cyborgs are afraid of wood.

[TigerHawkX · 10 February 2004]

Recently, I started browsing through the used movies bin at a local video store. You know the type, every movie marked down from $4 to $2. This is usually where you find old work out videos and videos that came with 80's toys (I think I found a Barbie Adventure in one of these once). Anyway this is where I discovered Mutant Hunt. The tagline on the box had me sold, "It's the 21st century New York and It's open season on cyborgs". The god awfulness of this tagline pretty much describes the god awfulness of the film. But that's actually the most entertaining feature of the film.

Mutant Hunt is by no means a good movie, or even a decent film. The script is terrible, the editing bites, and the camera work is abismal. However, if you want a film that you can repeatedly make fun of over and over again, this is your flick. My friend and I watched this film and made jokes throughout the entire thing, MST3K Style. One of our ongoing jokes was that Cyborgs are weak against wood and karate chops because that seemed to be the only thing that really had an effect on them.

I do have to give props to who ever was on the robot design, the cyborgs, normally just guys wearing sunglasses and are dripping fluid, generally look pretty terrible. However at one point, one of the cyborgs gets its skin torn off and we see the robotic endoskeleton. Its movements and looks were pretty good and you can see where 95% of the budget for this film went to.

Overall the film has some decent oneliners (including the phrase "space shuttle sex massacre" and one character who calls the cyborgs Jellyheads) but the true enjoyment of this film is really just making fun of it. This is the only redemption of the film. Jellyhead.

Lo-fi as can be...

[lost-in-limbo · 7/10 · 25 December 2021]

Just look at the stuffily robotic cyborgs sporting black sunnies, and dripping gooey fluids down their faces. But still, it's brimming with low-budget charm thanks to director Tim (The Kindred) Kincaid's vision.

The simple minded plot doesn't go beyond its junky set-pieces, but the script can throw out a few crazy ideas and an amusing line of dialogue here or there ("space shuttle sex massacre"). Towards the backend you can tell a bit a money went into the FX, especially the design of one particular mutant cyborg. It looks impressive for this type of film. Another highlight was the better than expected music score, which suitably overwhelms many scenes providing a persistent energy to a lot of the clumsy beat 'em up encounters and a dirt cheap atmosphere gives vibes of a decaying futuristic 21st century New York City. Also there are some nice distinctive shots too involving background lighting, and shadows as it's mainly set about at night.

In the end, while on the cheap and light on narrative drive. 'Mutant Hunt' stuck to its strengths and was an entertainingly pleasant surprise.

P.s And no the film never comes close to that amazing poster artwork.

Mutants... or cyborgs... or something

[theshitenight · 14 June 2016]

The movie takes place in a dystopian world after the "space shuttle sex murders", which is never quite explained, but I believe it sets up this movie for an incredible prequel. A scientist and a woman that looks like Cher have evil cyborg mutants that they get high. The mutant cyborgs are all dressed like they're member's of Devo and pretty much attack everybody they find on the street for what seems to be no reason at all. The movie comes to an exiting climax when they develop a cyborg that looks like a mummy and send it to fight a couple of guys on a bridge. This is probably the best release from wizard video...

For a full review check out the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnT6V-froZg

It's a terrible sci-fi cyborg film but has enough craziness to entertain

[abduktionsphanomen · 7/10 · 21 April 2024]

#192 Mutant Hunt - 1987 (This Films Rates a C+ ) New York, 1992. A futuristic view of the city run by newly developed killer cyborgs. The Delta7's contain an "alien molecule in their fuel system". Euphoron, a narcotic which allow the cyborgs to "kill for fun". A few of the cyborgs escape into the streets. One of the scientists flees the compound and seeks out a bounty hunter (Matt Riker) for assistance. He reluctantly accepts. Matt Riker and his gang start to hunt down some slimy gel headed "mutants! Psychosexual killers". Later he finds out that a 'for profit' sponsoring company is using them for a more sinister reason. Everything about this film is terrible. The over long comical fight scenes (and there are LOTS of them!), the fake gore and effects, the over the top acting, redicilous and unbelievable story lines that do not make any sense, a super low budget with crude sets (most of the streets were dark and virtually deserted), There are lasers, a man fighting cyborgs in his underwear while two women watch helplessly, drugs, awkward "romance" moments, gulliable men, easy women, cyberpunk costumes, and a cheese filled electronic rock soundtrack, Very brief T&A. Does any of that really matter? It is so bad that its mostly entertaining. Everything you ever wanted to see but never asked for. Sadly, the ending is anticlimactic, a letdown, and something that just missed elevating this film. "I hate it when men save me!

Cheesy 80's terminator knock-off.

[yeodawg · 2 November 2011]

Hokay the trailer will have you think that an executive releases mutants into New York, and terrorizes the city turning everybody into zombie. The cops are defenseless, the first responders can't do anything, accept for this Black –Water Security Agent doing a favor for a friend. I forgot this movie was done before 911, before 28days later it was done influenced by "TERMINATOR". So a bunch of Douche-bags wearing ray-bans, cover-alls, and sporting crew cuts plod around the city. But instead of terrorizing the citizens (ooohhh fun), they're self –aware and hunt the mercenaries out to attack them. The only thing more stiff, plodding, slow and un-coordinated than the Mutants (Cyborg's) are the mercs. For the 80's it was probably awesome but for 2011 it's laughable.

Okay for B-movie fans

[lor_ · 17 March 2023]

My review was written in July 1987 after watching the film on Wizard video cassette.

"Mutant Hunt" (originally titled "Matt Riker: Mutant Hunt") is another in the series of low-budget "New York" science fiction features that kicked off by the cult success of "Liquid Sky". Pic is a deadpan homage to 1950s monster pics from the team that made "Breeders" and "Robot Holocaust" (it was actually filmed as the first of the titles) and like them is debuting on videocassette, bypassing theatrical release. Soundtrack repeats much of the music from "Breeders".

Rick Gianisi toplines as rugged mercenary of the future Matt Riker, called in to hunt down wild, mutant cyborg of the Delta 7 model, designed by scientist Paul Haynes (Mark Umile), but being used for evil by megalomaniac Z (Bill Peterson). With Haynes' sister Darla (Mary Fahey), Riker recruits a team including comic relief martial arts expert Felix (Ron Reynoldi also the film's combat stager) and pretty government agent Elaine (Taunie Vrenon), who doubles as exotic dancer at Manhattan's Club Inferno.

Another evildoer in the heroes' way is Domina (played by the memorably named actress Stormy Spill), who is jealous of Z and out to get the drug Euphoron which he is using on the mutants (and to which she is addicted). Finale has Domina unveiling her own creation, a beefy Delta 8 cyborg.

Suffering from some continuity errors and a very weak ending, "Mutant Hunt" is fun on the level of those monotone second features of 30 years ago in which no-name casts pondered World War III or responded to alien invasions. As usual, filmmaker Tim Kincaid livens things up with a villainess sporting a funny accent; this time Stormy Spill gets the laughs talking like Anjelica Huston in "Prizzi's Honor". Amidst some rather gory scenes, film's highlight is a lifesize puppet of a half-destroyed cyborg, with kudos going to Ed French and Tom Lauten for creating an effect that's as impressive as many expensive animatronics creatures.