Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983)

On a distant planet inhabited by mutants, two bounty-hunters race to rescue three Earth female captives from the clutches of an evil mutant warlord.

Director:

Lamont Johnson

Writers:

Stewart Harding (story), Jean LaFleur (story)

Stars:

Peter Strauss, Molly Ringwald, Ernie Hudson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Strauss	...	Wolff
Molly Ringwald	...	Niki
Ernie Hudson	...	Washington
Andrea Marcovicci	...	Chalmers
Michael Ironside	...	Overdog
Beeson Carroll	...	Grandman Patterson
Hrant Alianak	...	Chemist
Deborah Pratt	...	Meagan
Aleisa Shirley	...	Reena
Cali Timmins	...	Nova
Paul Boretski	...	Jarrett
Patrick Rowe	...	Duster
Reggie Bennett	...	Barracuda Leader

Storyline

Three women make an emergency landing on a planet plagued with a fatal disease, but are captured by dictator Overdog. Adventurer Wolff goes there to rescue them and meets Niki, the only Earthling left from a medical expedition. Combining their talents, they try to rescue the women.

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Plot Keywords:

camp | 3d | low budget sci fi movie | dictator | sword and planet | 

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Taglines:

The first movie that puts you in outer space.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Colin Mochrie's film debut.

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Goofs

During the opening, the space cruise ship is traveling inside a gaseous formation when it collides with "frozen" gas. All scenes show this ship in this gas field until it blows up, when the ship is suddenly shown on a clear star background.

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Quotes

Wolff: [Having just kicked and further broken an already malfunctioning comms computer] The communicator is out again.
Chalmers: That's because we need a new auto-correlation spectometer... not to mention a new drive systems regulator, a freon activator and, of course, a complete scan systems overhaul.
Wolff: [Looks Chalmers over with a lustful gaze] I'm still glad I bought you the nightshirt instead!

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Alternate Versions

Released in Japan on the short-lived VHD format in 3-D. This disc has been widely copied to make bootleg tapes and DVDs.

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Connections

Featured in The Making of Spacehunter (1983)

User Reviews

Like Gold To A 12-Year-Old

Back when I was 12, renting this movie was like popping in the end-all be-all of science fiction, especially since I didn't get to see it at the theater! The credits were funky, the heroic Elmer Bernstein score was sweeping, the dialogue was amusing and the plot was something every 12-year-old boy only wishes he could take part in. After all, what could be more fun than taking your android companion on a simple mission to retrieve 3 female survivors from a destroyed outer space pleasure cruise ship who land on a planet nobody is supposed to go anywhere near? I was game!

As Wolfe, the man motivated to rescue the three maidens for some big time "megacredits", Peter Strauss is fantastically watchable. I don't know what it is about him as an actor, but he does try to bring some sense and sensibility to a pretty generic role. Joining this little adventure is Niki, played by a very young Molly Ringwald. Sure, she's annoying and a pain-in-Wolfe's rear end, but who else could you see playing her from that time period? One of the cast members of "The Facts Of Life"? Also included in the cast is Andrea Marcovicci (too bad her part wasn't a bit longer), Ernie Hudson (who always manages to bring some intensity to his roles whether in a good or "not so good" film) and Michael Ironside as Overdog (the opposite of "Underdog"?), the baddie.

Yes, the film consists of a whole lotta cheese; the dialogue borders on laughable (especially by the dwellers on the planet), the special effects don't quite live up to expectations and the plot revolves around a bunch of set pieces that don't seem to make for a consistent story.

Still, you know what? This movie holds a very special place in my heart. Let's face it, folks, they don't make them like this anymore. There's no fart jokes, no nudity, no sex and very little language. What's more, Peter Strauss gets some very funny moments! Upon finally rescuing the three screaming women from Overdog, a frustrated Wolfe shouts at them "Will you PLEASE shut up? I'm trying to rescue you!"

Haven't we all had a moment when we've wanted to say this very same thing?

8 out of 10

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Spacehunter

Filming Locations:

The Domes, Casa Grande, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,053,016, 22 May 1983

Gross USA:

$16,478,265

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,478,265

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Delphi I Productions, Zone Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (Dolby 2.0)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1