The Time Guardian (1987)

In the distant future, the human race nears extinction and a new race of beast-like creatures rule the earth. The few surviving people live in the City, a huge protected construction with ... See full summary »

Director:

Brian Hannant

Writers:

John Baxter, Brian Hannant

Stars:

Tom Burlinson, Nikki Coghill, Dean Stockwell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Burlinson	...	Ballard, The Time Guardian
Nikki Coghill	...	Annie Lassiter
Dean Stockwell	...	Boss
Carrie Fisher	...	Petra
Peter Merrill	...	Zuryk & Committee Member
Tim Robertson	...	Sergeant McCarthy
Jim Holt	...	Rafferty
Thye Liew Wan	...	Sun-Wah
Damon Sanders	...	Smith
Tom Karpanny	...	Tracker
Henry Salter	...	Prenzler
Peter Healy	...	Wayne
Adrian Shirley	...	Counihan
Don Barker	...	Undertaker
Terrayne Crawford	...	Tucker (as Terry Crawford)

Storyline

In the distant future, the human race nears extinction and a new race of beast-like creatures rule the earth. The few surviving people live in the City, a huge protected construction with the ability to travel in both space and time. The City travels back to our time to save humanity...

---

Plot Keywords:

space | war against machines | time travel | cult film | laser weapon | 

---

Taglines:

Time is just about the only thing he won't waste.

---

Genres:

Action | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 1987 (Australia)

Also Known As:

A Galaxis Harcosai

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 8,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hemdale Film, FGH, International Film Management

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Time Guardian was the flagship in a ten picture deal set up with the Hemdale Film Corporation by producer Antony I. Ginnane. But when Hemdale pulled out of the production, the other nine pictures ended up suspended indefinitely.

---

Quotes

Annie Lassiter: Tell me more, Ballard.
Ballard: About the City?
Annie Lassiter: Yeah.
Ballard: You'd be amazed. The technology's enormous. We've got powers your time only dreams about.
Annie Lassiter: No, I mean, the people. Are they different?
Ballard: They still fight and squabble, and try very hard to outdo each other. I guess they're not very different.
Annie Lassiter: And what about men and women?
Ballard: They fall in and out of love, marry and divorce, argue over the children... what?
Annie Lassiter: I'm pleased.
Ballard: Why?
[...]

---

Connections

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

---

Soundtracks

"This Time I Know"
Written by Bobby Martin (as Robert Martin) and Allan Zavod

User Reviews

Almost uniformly dreadful

If this film didn't end Dean Stockwell's and Carrie Fisher's careers, nothing will. The narrative sequence often contradicts itself, and the plot line gets lost in the stylistic excesses of the direction. Production qualities are laughably amateurish (especially the JenDiki sequences), and some of the most violent scenes serve no structural purpose (do not advance the plot). A notably embarrassing aspect is the star billing given to Dean Stockwell, who obviously phoned in his performance one afternoon. Before seeing this film, I had thought that all major actors had agents who steer them away from career-killing disasters. Because this film is laughably bad, it might be recommended as a satirical send-up of the sci-fi genre, unintentional spoof though it may be.