Future Force (1989) User Reviews

John Tucker Must Die...

[fmarkland32 · 3/10 · 26 September 2006]

David Carradine plays John Tucker, a futuristic cop who uses a robotic glove to combat a corrupt totalitarian government in this cheap action flick which has Carradine in okay form, despite being too cheap to work at being the type of action flick it tries to be. David Carradine is an actor who's career went straight through the crapper, after some promising movies in the 70's. After a failed attempt to bring Kung Fu to the 80's, he ended up making sub-par cheapies like this to stretch out his prolific filmography. Future Force walks the fine line between just plain terrible and amusingly awful. The production values themselves rival ROTOR and it becomes quite obvious that Carradine's pay cut consisted of at least 70% of the budget. What is somehow even goofier about the movie are the action sequences in which Carradine actually manages to use a remote control glove to fly and zap people. This of course adds to the fun of watching what could quite possibly be one of the most low grade science fiction movies ever made. Still you have to love Carradine's macho tough guy role who is so laid back that he seems more at home smoking pot then actually saving the day. David Carradine though has always seemed like a stoner (Well actually he is) and that is why we love him.

* 1/2 out of 4-(Poor)

How did this get a sequel?!

[Saw-it-on-Tubi · 2/10 · 19 April 2019]

Full disclosure: I watched this with the Rifftrax commentary.

After this watching this movie, I had to really think about the plot because I had no idea. It's only about 80 minutes long and it felt like they were padding for time. There is some silly action scenes that can be good for a laugh, but I don't know how someone saw this and said "yes, we do need another movie in this universe. The people need more."

just bad, not good

[umfug · 2/10 · 19 March 2020]

This is a poorly conceived trainwreck. How this movie is rated R is a big question because there is nothing that would be restricted to anyone over 6 years old. Low budget? Yes, very low. So bad, it's good? No, not at all. Everything about this movie is terrible. If you can't go another day without seeing another Carradine movie, then go ahead. You can't make a low budget "future" movie. Well, not this low. Ticker signs and mini TVs with terrible graphics doesn't cut it. Sometimes he has that mechanical arm and other times not. Long stretches of nothing before any action. We do have afternoon soap operas for this. Everyone's energy level is very low. A 110 year old with diabetes in an assisted living home could destroy everyone in this movie. It's just boring and terrible.

one of those cheesy action packed non-sense films

[Gabriel Dotson · 24 August 2001]

It's about an arrogant cop played by "David Carridine" whom protects a female reporter who knows too much. For that a ransom death sentence (or a bounty) has been put out on her life. It's the typical shoot 'em up and save the girl type of films.

Past Force

[Vomitron_G · 3/10 · 12 August 2006]

"Past Force" or "Present Force" would have been a more appropriate title for this movie instead of FUTURE FORCE. Not even one attempt by the film-makers is being done to make this movie look futuristic. This movie looked already dated before it even came out. Well, except for this amazingly cool and cheap-looking plastic robot-glove David Carradine wears from time to time. This movie also could have been called "David Carradine's 80 minutes car drive", because that's about all he does in this movie. Well, okay, near the end he does kick a few punches. But, damn, he looks out of shape and indeed drunk most of the time.

Yep, this is one of those so-bad-it's-hilarious flicks. Why wasn't this one directed by Jim Wynorski? It would have been even more fun! Almost every five minutes there's a great laugh to be had with this flick. A couple of random examples: This movie features one of the most pathetic car-chases I've ever seen. Then the helicopter came on and I thought "Damn, where did the budget came from to hire it?" A few seconds later I was laughing again when they blew up that fake cardboard miniature helicopter. At one moment the chief of police (or whatever he is) is seen sipping some strong booze from a glass, smiling, clearly content with himself, not saying anything. I was waiting for the cut to the next scene, but instead he took another sip, and another... One of the best unintentional laughs I got out of this flick (and this is most definitely one of those re-wind moments) was when Carradine was driving the car and explaining to the reporter that he did not at any moment found all this to be funny, that he up until then did not laugh with anything at all... then he cranks up a smile and looks DIRECTLY into the camera. The editor (deliberately?) cut away just a few seconds too late. Maybe this was Carradine's way of saying to the director: "Screw you and your idiotic movie, hahaha!" The afore-mentioned robot-glove really is a hoot! It shoots silly animated blue lasers that almost always miss their target. It can punch through cardboard doors. And it can prevent a car from driving away just by grabbing it. Notice that Carradine and his wheel-chair-bound side-kick keep on nagging about "the remote control" throughout the whole movie. And when he finally activates it, you just wont believe your eyes. My friend and me jumped up from the sofa, laughing it up, out of sheer enjoyment. Just look at the way the totally NON-electronic suitcase opens itself. Just look at it fly through the air in all possible directions. Just look at it hitting and strangling the bad guy. Just look at it doing the a-okay sign. And all this by having Carradine pushing only ONE and the SAME friggin' button!

Yep, this truly is one of the better bad movies out there. And, on the contrary of what one fellow commentator mentioned, this flick does indeed contain some female nudity (just some naked boobies flashing on your screen, but still a joyful moment it was). I got even more enthusiastic when I learned this movie actually has a sequel called FUTURE ZONE, also starring David Carradine!!! Damn, I really need to get my hands on that baby, real fast!

So bad its just bad !

[mikelcat · 1/10 · 14 February 2009]

This junk makes you wonder , ''what were they thinking?''. David Carridine sleep walks thru a dismal excuse for entertainment (he's also executive producer so hes doubly at fault ) and leads a cast of mostly stunt people and gym rats thru what could be used to torture spies in revealing state secrets. Its so bad its not even funny , its just sad . It could be used as a sleep inducing method for teens or as punishment as well .Its very difficult to come up with ten lines on this waste of time garbage other than to say its a waste of time . Did I mention that its a waste of time ? But other than being a waste of time its excellent in its own right .

8 - only for the Rifftrax Version

[mhorg2018 · 1/10 · 13 November 2019]

The only way to watch this lame film, is to watch the Rifftrax version. The guys start out low with "A closet full of Jokes" and "How did they rope him - David Carradine - into this" and stay down there. Just a hysterical jaunt through a terrible movie.

The worst, sorry...

[BandSAboutMovies · 1/10 · 12 September 2019]

Remember Killer Workout? Yeah, that was David Prior. So was The Final Sanction. Now I've finally crawled to the bottom of the post-apocalyptic barrel that is Future Force, starring David Carradine, who I would like to think knows better, but he learned how to be in films beneath him from his dad, kind of like that kid in the anti-drug commercial movie from the 1970's.

Back in 1989, this movie was set in the far-flung future of next year - 2020. That's when law enforcement has become so bad at their jobs that they turn to metal-armed John Tucker (Carradine) and his bounty hunter team, C.O.P.S (Civilian Operated Police Systems).

All the corruption has led to Tucker becoming a bitter washed-up drunk. One could argue that life is imitating art right here. Regardless, he's been hired to protect a reporter from the cops, because she can finally prove just how corrupt they are. And oh yeah - Tucker's partner is evil, so even the C.O.P.S. are against the two of them.

If you should remember Kung Fu, all the better, because Carradine's denim jacket has one of the symbols from the show on the back. Sadly, it looks and sounds like Carradine would rather be anywhere else but here. It's even more amazing that he turned up for the sequel.

THE WORST MOVIE EVER....

[ecto1ajon · 1/10 · 9 May 2003]

This is by the far the worst movie I have ever seen. It should be classified under comedy, because everything about it is a joke. Through the whole movie, we are supposed to believe that fat david carradine is the best cop of the future....give me a break. The whole time he's moving in slow motion and talks like John Wayne. He has some stupid electric glove that looks like that old nintendo glove. At one point he used a remote control to operate it that only had one big red button. Everytime he pushed that same big red button the glove would do something else like open the car door, punch, send out waves of energy and even give the old thumbs up. WOW!!!!

Besides the horrible acting, the cinematography was absolute garbage. Whoever edited this movie should never work in film again. Some of the scenes were just added in to take up time. I remember one scene where the chief of police was in his office just drinking a can of soda. THEY SHOWED HIM DRINKING THAT SODA FOR LIKE FIVE MINUTES!!! The car chases looked like they were looped to show the same scene over and over. Every once in a while they would throw in random cuts of David Carradine just walking around or aimlessly driving around town.

I don't have to tell you how ridiculous the story was. The whole time I was watching the movie me and my friend were laughing hysterically at how ridiculous everything in this movie was. I swear you could have given me ten bucks and a video camera and i could have made a better movie in my backyard.

I recommend every film teacher show this movie to their students to demonstrate to them how NOT to make a movie.

Made in 1989 and set in 1991...

[Aaron1375 · 3/10 · 26 April 2020]

When one sets a film in the future, one generally sets it ten or more years in the future. This one sets it two years in the future, a future where they replace real police officers with what is essentially bounty hunters who for the most part do not wear sleeves! There are also places for this cops to congregate and see boobs! Well, that sure is futuristic! In the end, just a low budget film that is entertaining enough to watch, but has absolutely no logic within its frames.

The story has a particular future force cop show off what a bad ass he is by taking down a dude that is wanted with a revolver. Then he takes down two more dudes who have numerous parking violations with one of those Nintendo power gloves and it shoots lasers! Such a strange addition to the movie as no one else has anything like it and it is literally the only thing in the film that could be considered futuristic, but then it is only set two years in the future so it is kind of too futuristic. Well two dudes crush a dude and run the cops or something and a news reporter says on the news she is going to run the tape to expose him so this guy and his goon set a bounty on the girl that the main man played by Robert Caradine intercepts so that he may get the reward. He ends up trying to protect the girt as something is just not right with the case.

A lot of things in this film just are off and make no sense as you watch such as the part where Caradine takes the woman into the bar with all the other cops. Didn't he figure they would be after the girl too? Then there is the scene at the end where the tech dude sets it up for the owner of the company to be arrested and he gets gunned down; however, if he owns the company wouldn't that mean that no one is getting paid? Lots of illogical things like that going down in this hard boiled future! Okay, more like lightly poached future.

So this film was not that great, but it was mildly amusing to watch. Caradine looks like he is hammered in many of the scenes and I imagine he really did not want to do this film. Most of the action scenes involve him and the reporter parking in a random alley and waiting to be attacked and the strip bar had some really nice looking ladies within. Too bad near the end it gets a bit boring as we get a lousy final showdown and poor tech boy gets gunned down without a single tear shed...

Near the bottom of the barrel for the dystopian future film genre.

[Idiot-Deluxe · 2/10 · 19 October 2016]

"Come on Tucker get up I want some more of your ass!"

Warning: Look out for the airborn knuckle-sandwich an hour and eight minutes in!

1989's Future Force is highly typical of the Derrick that David Carradine churned out throughout his career, in fact it's a textbook example of exactly what level of film-making one can expect to see when the name David Carradine shows up; another good/typical example of his work would Dune Warriors, which was made the year after Future Force.

Carradine's a cop of sort's "the top-gun in his precinct", but more accurately he's a bounty hunter, he works for C.O.P.S. (civilian operated police systems) it's supposedly "the future", but you'd NEVER guess it by any of the visuals this movie has to offer. Filmed in and around L.A. and in "the future" nearly everyone is clad in denim from head to toe and they use the standard fire-arm's of today, why "Tucker" (that's Carradine's character) even uses an antique pistol, a type that dates back to the 1800's - again their supposedly depicting "the future" here. Never have I seen a lamer or lazier or less imaginative attempt to depict the future then what we see in this movie, again, that's FUTURE Force were talking about here. However there is one instance where they actually tried to convince the audience that what they were seeing was really "the future", it's their one attempt at hi-tech. Tucker has this special one-of-a-kind glove (that he keeps in the back of his Jeep Cherokee, yep those are his "futuristic" wheels, there are several old-beater station wagons used as well, I'm not kidding) that can do "all kinds of things", such as shoot laser beams, give him super-human strength and by use of a remote-control it can fly through the air and unleash a clench-fisted air-born assault against Tucker's enemies. This glove Tucker has pretty much looks like a glorified version of a Nintendo Power-Glove (which was brand-new on the market at the time)- yes, the cheese-factor of this lame action flick is pretty high times.

Throughout the movie the action is completely standard-fare, except for the chase scenes which are well below average. Other than Carradine the only other actor of note (that anyone's familiar with) to be seen in Future Force is the distinctive character actor, the late Robert Tessier (Rob was unfortunately cut-down by cancer the following year), other than those two the cast is filled out with no-name/inter-changeable actor's. To his credit the guy who plays the lead-villain is pretty good, whoever he is. It's surprising that Carradine, a martial arts expert, would look and move the way he does in this movie, having a bit of a gut and he exerts the minimum amount of energy and effort throughout the movie - in other words, a very lazy and half-assed performance. You can plainly tell he's not interested in the movie and is merely there to pick up a check, which if you watch his movies, usually seems to be Carradine's MO (with maybe a few exceptions, Lone Wold McQuade is pretty good). If you can believe it they actually felt the need to make a sequel the very next year, yes they were highly motivated (Carradine returns, just for another paycheck) to churn out yet another generic, sub-par, quickly forgotten low-budget action film - in the form of 1990's "Future Zone", which is really no better or worse than Future Force.

Ultimately this movie, Future Force, is a profoundly unremarkable and easily forgotten movie that has very little to offer, it is lazy, amateurish and uninspired - though I have seen worse.

Note: I think you'll find the location photography to be just INSPIRED throughout, the crew did a real bang-up job capturing L.A. in all it's splendor. I wonder if thee iconic "Happy Burger" restaurant (there's this -ridiculous- shot an hour or so into the movie, where Happy Burger's garish outer facade fills nearly the entire shot!!) is still up is still up and going - if so I'd like to try one!

Future Force would make a perfect double-feature with R.O.T.O.R. What would be the sale's pitch? Maybe, "Do you like Crappy Movies? Well hey, you're in luck - here's two more!"

A Damn Funny Way To Recover from a Hangover

[reverendtom · 10/10 · 29 March 2004]

This is the kind of movie that is best watched with friends who are recovering from hangovers. That is how i was introduced to it, and it definitely helped my condition. This film is completely and totally hilarious. I love it. From the extremely cheesy dialogue to the sleazy porno looking police chief to the magical robot glove, this movie rules. In fact, I'm hungover right now. In fact, I'm going to watch it again right now. Yes.

Good "bad" cinema .......

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 26 June 2015]

See it for the fight in the junkyard between Carradine and Tessier. Both appear so out of shape that the huffing and puffing could blow a house down. "Future Force" is a film that makes no sense, yet has moments of weirdness that keeps things going. The remote controlled glove is certainly a highlight. The zero budget shows through in almost every spartan scene. Product placements for whiskey, beer, and mixers appear throughout. Think of this as sort of a "spaghetti western" taking place in 1991, only following a standard exploitation formula with a mandatory strip bar, nonsensical explosions, and gun play that misses at point blank range. Truly this is good "bad" cinema. - MERK

Hokum with a Capital H!

[zardoz-13 · 3/10 · 14 March 2009]

"Future Force" qualifies as a cheesy, predictable, low-budget action crime saga that delivers no surprises and resembles a modern-day, urban western rather than a futuristic tale about justice in Los Angeles. "Kill Bill" star David Carradine served as the associate producer so there is mystery as to why he appears in this tongue-in-cheek thriller, but the wonderful Robert Tessier of "The Longest Yard" provides the film with a few moments of fun. "Future Force" contains a modicum of nudity, and strippers chiefly furnish those fleeting moments in a bar named the DMZ where unsavory gun-totting civilian cops hang out between jobs. The special effects are really awful, with superimposed blue lines that spread like a spider web over whatever and laser beams that are straight blue lights. The biggest thing in his thriller occurs when a guy fires a LAWS rocket at a police helicopter and it vanishes in an explosion. The dialogue is forgettable, but "Jungle Assault" director David A. Prior keeps the mindless mayhem moving fast enough and shows a few interesting camera movements so "Future Force" doesn't stall out.

The action unfolds with some lengthy exposition that sets up the world of "Future Force." According to the narrator: "In the year 1991, crime in America was out of control. Prisons were overloaded. Police forces were understaffed. Gun battles in city streets became common place. No one was safe. The cities had become the battlefields of the future and the criminals were winning the war. The public demanded change and the government responded. Police departments across the country were shut down, and law enforcement was handed over to private enterprise. Civilian Operated Police Systems, Incorporated., took over. Within two years crime was under control. The price, however, was a heavy one. For justice as we once knew it had ceased to exist."

Former L.A.P.D. officer John Tucker (a paunchy David Carradine) is one of the best in the business. He has acquired a bad reputation for not bringing in any prisoners alive. The Miranda-style statement that he utters to each lawbreaker is amusing. "You've committed a crime. You're presumed guilty until proved innocent. You have the right to die. You choose to relinquish that right you'll be placed under arrest and put in prison." In his first encounter of many with a suspect, Tucker guns him down old West style in a fast draw showdown. The two other creeps that were with the suspect attack Tucker. He punches one in the balls and uses the club that they attacked him with to smash the other guy's face. When these two try to escape, Tucker wields a huge bionic glove that he wears over his hand and forearm to stop them from fleeing the scene in their car. The power of the bionic glove is so enormous Tucker can plant it on the roof of the car and hold the car still when the driver floors the accelerator and the tires spin. When Tucker releases the car to check his computer in his Cherokee Chief truck, the felons try to run him down and Tucker uses the laser built into the glove to flip the car. When he learns from his computer whiz go-between that the two guys in the wrecked car were guilty only of parking tickets, Tucker observes that they are about to be charged with another parking violation.

Tucker has an onboard computer in his truck and the computer nerd who keeps him posted with updates about new criminals sits in a wheelchair. Tucker accidentally shot him when Billy (D.C. Douglas) was a six-year old and Tucker and his partner responded to a crime call at the kid's residence. Meanwhile, Jason Adams (William Zipp of "Operation Warzone") is the Chief Executive Officer in Charge and he doesn't have a qualm about killing people. The first time that we see him he has a rival tied up in a junk car. The rival begs Adams to let him go, but Adams sends him off to a car crushing machine to do a "Goldfinger" number on the guy. Becker (Robert Tessier of "The Longest Yard") serves as Adams' chief of security and he accompanies Adams anywhere.

Adams is as corrupt as they come. He tries to get fifty percent of a mobster's action, but the mobster, Grimes, refuses to pay him. Eventually, the greedy Adams finds himself in a predicament when the Channel 3 News anchor girl, Marion Sims (Anna Rapagna of "The A-Team"), promises her viewers that she will feature an expose on Adams that concerns his illegal activities. An angry Adams has Becker put out an arrest warrant on Sims, but Billy intercepts it and channels it to Tucker and Tucker picks her up and tries to bring her in. Adams sends out other men to get the anchorwoman and Tucker guns down them. Adams has a warrant issued for Tucker and our hero finds himself on the run, too.

The best scene in "Future Force" involves Tucker's use of the bionic glove. Just as Becker is about to plug him, Tucker produces the remote control unit for the glove that he has refused to use and activates it. The hatch of his Cherokee Chief flies up, the mechanical snap locks on the case pop open, and the glove zooms through the air and clamps onto Becker's neck.

The screenplay by creator Thomas Baldwin and co-scenarist Prior is not without holes. After Adams calls criminal boss Grimes in for a conference and demands a 50 percent cut, we don't see Grimes again until he shoots down a helicopter menacing our heroes. The irony about Sims is that she only reads the news copy. Everything about this thriller is strictly routine, though Prior does handle some scene with a minimum of flair. Acting is not required and Carradine walks through his role with ease. Nevertheless, Tessier is always fun to watch.

"Better Get A Cleanup Crew Out Here, It's Pretty Messy!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 22 May 2021]

In the crime-ridden future of 1991, FUTURE FORCE begins. There is no justice, and a mega-corporation runs all law enforcement. Wearing an awesome vest, Tucker (David Carradine) is one such law enforcement officer. He uses his enormous gun, along with kung fu to keep the streets safe. He also has a secret weapon in the form of a robotic glove. Said glove gives Tucker superhuman strength. It also shoots blue lasers!

It seems that the odious gang lord, Adams (Willian Zipp) and his heinous henchman, Becker (Robert Tessier) are causing mischief again.

Enter TV reporter, Marion (Anna Rapagna), who is looking for her big break. She's out to expose the corruption in the corporation, especially its ties to Adams, who has begun yelling a lot, and gesticulating like a cartoon character with a cactus in his pants.

When the corporate types decide to eliminate Marion, Tucker is dispatched to do the dirty work. Not-so shockingly, things get complicated, resulting in Tucker going "on the run" with Marion, giving him ample reason to don the glove.

Endless chase scenes, gun battles, and explosions erupt.

This all leads to the obligatory "final showdown" between Tucker and Adams, and Becker. The ensuing junkyard battle sequence features Tucker vs. Becker, complete with punches that sound like sacks of tomatoes hitting empty 55-gallon drums. It also includes the remote-controlled, flying robo-arm scene! Don't miss it!

THE MOST SUBLIME SCENE IN THE MOVIE: You will stare saucer-eyed when the preacher shoots down a helicopter with his rocket launcher! Cinema has known no better moment!...

Not David Carradine's best

[6jimbob9 · 4/10 · 17 September 2010]

I had to give this a four because of comedy relief.

It's fun to watch, but it can't be taken seriously.

The glove is too much!

I prefer other Carradine offerings, such as "The Long Riders", "Kil Bill I and II", "Q, The Winged Serpent", "Circle of Iron" or "Lone Wolf McQuaid", and of course his excellent TV work in Kung Fu.

MST 3000 may have worked "Future Force" over. If not, it should have.

When I look at his filmography, I realize how much of his work I've never seen.

I probably won't rewatch this one too soon.

Don't get on John Tucker's bad side!

[tarbosh22000 · 4/10 · 21 April 2011]

In the future, crime is so rampant that regular police are overworked. Enter C.O.P.S., a private firm that is like law enforcement/bounty hunters. It stands for Civilian Operated Police Systems. The big hotshot of the C.O.P.S. is one John Tucker (Carradine). With the help of his computer nerd buddy Billy (Douglas), he always gets his man. After it is thought that TV news reporter Marion Sims (Rapagna) has some incriminating dirt on corrupt Adams (Zipp), the head of the C.O.P.S., he frames her for, of all things, treason, and now all the bounty hunters are after her. Luckily (or perhaps not), Tucker gets to her first. Now Tucker and Sims are on the run from their former co-workers, who all shoot to kill. Adams and his sidekick Becker (Tessier) are ruthless, especially against someone who is "not on their payroll", i.e. Tucker. But Tucker has a secret weapon, a "power glove" that must be seen to be believed....

Here, director David Prior steals from everything ranging from Death Race 2000 (1975) to The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) to The Gauntlet (1977) to Robocop (1987), and it all has an especially junky feel. Even the cartoon COPS, which debuted on TV in 1988 (in that case it stood for Central Organization of Police Specialists), and the "original reality show" Cops, which debuted in 1989, might have been reference points for Prior, as they were contemporary shows in the general consciousness.

But the filmmakers must have had problems with the timeline, as even though Future Force was released in '89, the "far off future time" was a full two years later, 1991! Couldn't they do just a bit better? Then again, they could have been aping yet another 80's classic, Max Headroom, which takes place 23 minutes into the future. But this seems like it could have been a potential Ron Marchini vehicle, as it has the same cheap, "futuristic", garbagey scenario, you know it's the future because all the baddies wear baseball caps, and Carradine gives a flat, unlikable performance. Even "John Travis" (one of Marchini's characters) and "John Tucker" are not far off, and Zipp's portrayal of Adams is kind of D.W. Landingham-esque. Was this originally meant for Marchini, but Carradine was used instead? Carradine seems bored/tired/uninterested/perturbed in his role as Tucker, and even though he was 53 years old at the time of shooting, it is said he is 40. We're not saying all action stars have to be young guys - look at Eastwood (an obvious influence on this film) - but come on. If the main star is not up for it, it can drag the movie down. While Carradine can do better, perhaps the influence of Marchini was just too strong. We know they know each other, at the very least, because they did a movie together, Karate Cop (1991). It's almost funny how much Carradine openly seems like he doesn't even want to be there. But on the bright side, he has an awesome vest.

As far as the baddies, William Zipp gives the best performance we've seen of his to date. He sinks his teeth into his villain role. His sidekick Becker (interestingly also the name of his sidekick in Jungle Assault (1989), but played by Ted Prior), is a good heavy, and the actor that played him, Robert Tessier has a long career which contains everything from One Man Force (1989) to Beverly Hills Brats (1989) to No Safe Haven (1987).

All of Tucker's C.O.P.S. co-workers are goofy-looking dudes (except for genre stalwart Dawn Wildsmith) and they hang out at a strip club called the Demilitarized Zone, but in the movie, they misspell "demilitarized"! Come on. Little things like that go to illustrate the sloppiness of the overall production.

It may seem we've been a bit hard on Future Force, and Carradine's perhaps-uncaring performance has something to do with that (even though he's credited as a co-producer, so you'd think he'd care more, or at least put on that face), but if you take into account everything we've said so far, you could still have a grand old time watching this movie. It's "cheap and cheerful" as they say, and there are plenty of fun and funny moments. Plus it has some memorable Steve McClintock music, as is common for AIP, and has a short running time of less than 80 minutes.

Seemingly one of the more popular AIP titles, you might be able to find this at closing video stores or thrift shops. If you do, pick it up...but don't get on John Tucker's bad side.

For more insanity, please visit: comeupppancereviews.com

I really like David Carradine...

[crystalart · 5/10 · 18 October 2010]

It's difficult to give this film a very good rating, although I do recommend you see it, if you like David Carradine.

Since his untimely death, I've tried to collect and watch all of his films that are still available.

I think MST3000 would have had fun with this one, if they censored out the nudity and perhaps some of the profanity.

Two used copies I ordered on line were defective, and tonight I received my third (new) copy, and am enjoying it as I type this review.

I'm awaiting a DVD of "Sundown, the Vampire in Retreat", and I also enjoy rewatching "Q, The Winged Serpent". Carradine and Michael Moriarty are excellent together.

Worse than drinking OJ from a tin cup

[jaigurudavid · 1/10 · 16 May 2018]

The only pleasant aspect of this movie is the beautiful Anna Rapagna. The only thing futuristic about this movie is that we are watching it in their future. Terrible soundtrack, terrible movie.

"You have committed a crime and are presumed guilty. You have a right to die."

[bensonmum2 · 2/10 · 16 August 2017]

In the future, law enforcement will essentially be out-sourced. These new police, known by the unimaginative acronym COPS, will not only arrest criminals, but also, in many instances, act as judge and juror. But the system can easily be manipulated. When a reporter threatens one of the owners of COPS, he has the reporter's name added to the wanted list with a sizable bounty and a message to kill. One of the COPS named Tucker (David Carradine) sees the system for the flawed mess it has become, decides to help the reporter, and is put on the execute list for his trouble.

If I had to use only two words to describe Future Force, I'd say it's lazy filmmaking. As an example, Future Force is lazy in the sense that, even though the movie is set in the future, very minimal effort was taken to make it look like the future. The only real futuristic aspect is the all-powerful glove used by Tucker. And, the filmmakers were so lazy they used it sparingly. Tucker uses a regular old non- futuristic pistol in 99% of the movie.

Another way Future Force is lazy can be seen in the acting. I can't remember one acting performance that stood out. Every one of them seems to be just going through the motions. The worst offender is Carradine. His performance is a fantastic example of an actor in it for the paycheck. It's easy to see he doesn't care at all about the finished product. Speaking of Carradine, he looks horrible in this movie. I can't remember ever seeing him look this out of shape. He doesn't look well.

You can see Future Force's laziness in the writing. The film is full of filler. There are scenes that add nothing to the plot. In fact, there are scenes where literally nothing happens. There are a few example I could name (people driving cars with no purpose, people doing absolutely nothing while hiding out, etc) but my favorites are a couple of rather lengthy shots of a guy having a drink. That's all he does - he pours a drink, sips it, sets the glass down, and picks it up for another drink. And it happens at least twice in the movie. It's about as lazy a job of writing as I can remember.

Future Force is another of those movies I could write about for days. The laziness extends to set-design, music, costuming, and on and on. But, as I always say, what's the point. It's a bad movie that doesn't deserve any rating higher than 2/10. In some ways it's not as bad as it is sad. Future Force is truly a depressing experience.

Graduates from The Empire's School for Stormtroopers

[phrankenstign-901-470698 · 1/10 · 23 April 2016]

Yes, many more have graduated. In the far off future of 1991, the police will be replaced by civilian contractors. Each must first pass the high standards of marksmanship set by The Empire's Stormtroopers. Not only must they miss their quarry, they must miss all clothes, vehicles, and nearby props entirely. Until now, only stormtroopers had been so precise.

In Future Force, David Caradine's character of John Tucker is shot at repeatedly with all kinds of different weapons. However not one bullet hole is shown anywhere near him. He is shot at with machine guns, shotguns, and pistols. His truck is never damaged by bullet holes throughout the entire movie. Tucker himself is shot twice by what appears to be a very experienced murderer, Becker. Tucker gets back up with only a trickle of blood dripping from the edge of his mouth without any sign of a bruise, cut, nor BULLET HOLE.

Yes, these civilian contractors must have assuredly graduated SUMMA CUM LAUDE from The Empire's School for Stormtroopers.

One amazing scene shows a couple of those contractors walking towards Tuckers vehicle from about 50 feet behind. Tucker tells the woman reporter to put her head down. Tucker then teleports himself out of the truck to a place unseen by the two contractors. Sometimes movie magic is just so mind-numbingly incredible!

SEE! A Plethora of Classic Antique 70s and 80s Cars and Trucks!!!

SEE! Big 80s-style hair!!! Futuristic Cathode Ray Tube Technology!!!

SEE! The Highly-Anticipated Return of The MULLETT!!!

SEE! Biker-look Civilian Contractor C.O.P.S.*!!!

SEE! Spectacular Manual and Remote Flying Robot Arm Action!!!

SEE! Topless Dancing & Naked Butts!!!

SEE! A Car Flip!!! A Car Cliff Dive!!!

SEE! A TV Implode!!! A Helicopter Explode!!!

SEE! Chief Cherokee Teleport Three Times in One Scene****!!!

SEE! Groin Punches!!! Disappearing Color TV*****!!!

SEE! Sanitation Department Horror of Dead Body Pileups

I give this spectacular bomb FIVE out of FIVE Ed Wood Stars!

This movie was included in Echo Bridge Home Entertainment's DVD SCI-FI SIX PACK COLLECTOR'S SET (UPC# 0 96009 54329 7). The box set came with three DVD cases each with its own catalog number (54309, 54319, 54799), no UPC #, and designated "NOT FOR INDIVIDUAL RESALE". Each case came with two DVDs:

54309:

• Firehead...............UPC #0 96009 51529 4

• Space Mutiny.........UPC #0 96009 51599 7

54319:

• Future Force..........UPC #0 96009 51579 9

• Future Zone...........UPC #0 96009 51589 9

54799:

• Prey of the Jaguar...UPC #0 96009 49619 7

• Conspiracy of Fear...UPC #0 96009 51509 6

I guess the box was originally designed to house four DVD cases, because Echo Bridge graciously---free and without fanfare on the packaging---added two rectangular pieces of cardboard to fill in the extra space.

* Civilian Operated Police Systems (according to the sign on the entrance to the headquarters)**

** Civilian Operated Police Incorporated (according to the narrator)***

*** Civilian Operated Police State (according to Echo Bridge Home Entertainment's DVD case's description)

**** Establishing shot shows car in a seemingly deserted dirt road with railroad tracks. In closeups of Marion (Anna Rapagna) and Tucker, cross traffic is blurry but clearly visible not far behind them. Later, two C.O.P.S. are seen walking towards the car with a truck parked behind them. Only the front tire is visible. There is no traffic. The next camera angle through the Cherokee shows a different location with a different truck where the rear wheel is clearly visible. In the mirror they appear to be in the original deserted location.

***** Front camera angles show Tucker and Marion clearly looking at the center console as they watch and react to their helper, Billy, talking on-screen. However shots from behind the couple show no signs of the TV anywhere.

Confederate flags and conspicuously bald actors.

[wesleyvanauken · 1/10 · 21 February 2021]

I'm not saying the guy who made this film was a white supremacist but... the clan meetings he went to definitely didn't center around feet and ninja turtles.

Re: Better performance than Kill Bill v2

[wilbertvonbork · 10/10 · 22 December 2004]

My vote is a perfect 10...for perfectly awful. This video was for sale and I gobbled it up because I thought that it was FutureZone, the sequel to this film. I saw FutureZone years ago and laughed to joyous content. And although Kill Bill v2 was just a hilarious, at least the David Carradine scenes, this film doesn't make me run to the bomb shelter (its important to note that Tarintino's v2 work had everything, including a kitchen sink full of puke, I left the theater thinking Armegeddon could begin at any second...for there was no turd left unturned in that magnum opus). Anyway, this film was everything I wanted and more, the robot laser cannon is really the icing on the pudding.

Watch out for the glove!

[HaemovoreRex · 6/10 · 9 January 2009]

A bevy of curiously pot bellied actors (including an especially out of shape David Carradine) feature in this mildly enjoyable romp from the ever prolific, David A Prior. Well, first things first - it has to be said that this is cheap with a capital 'C' - and by gum, it shows! Nonetheless, as with most of Mr Priors other offerings, the fun factor here makes up for the budgetary shortcomings as we are treated to a plethora of shoot outs, fights and scenes featuring topless, gyrating dancers.....um.....OK. As other reviewers have quite rightly noted, the doubtless highlight in this though involves Carradine's robotic glove which is a pretty nifty bit of kit, for not only can it punch through solid doors and fire laser beams(!) but it is also fully, independently operational via a remote control(!) (a control which bears an uncanny similarity to one of those used to open an electronic garage door in fact.....) Suffice to say that you can not really say to have lived until you have witnessed the bloody thing flying through the air and attacking someone!

Yes indeed, this is simple, daft fun and will go down a joyous treat with friends over and a large amount of alcohol.

More Dystopian Fun

[DavyDissonance · 5/10 · 21 November 2017]

Set in dystopian future which looks too much like today, some guy with a cyborg arm is framed for something and...... I don't know. I didn't pay attention. For what it's worth, at least they made a movie in which I could never do. Anyways this is a low budget action/sci fi movie which is rather bland and silly. The idea is good and the action is neat but slow pacing and a lousy attempt at trying to make the dystopian future look convincing are its failures. Recommended to low grade $#!+ lovers at best.