Def-Con 4 (1985)

Two men and a woman circle the globe in a satellite armed with a nuclear device. The third world war breaks out, and a few months later the satellite crashes. They survive the crash but one... See full summary »

Directors:

Paul Donovan, Digby Cook (as Digby C. Cook)

Writer:

Paul Donovan

Stars:

Lenore Zann, Maury Chaykin, Kate Lynch

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lenore Zann	...	J.J.
Maury Chaykin	...	Vinny
Kate Lynch	...	Jordan
Kevin King	...	Gideon Hayes
John Walsch	...	Walker
Tim Choate	...	Howe
Jeff Pustil	...	Lacey
Donna King	...	Alice
Alan MacGillivray	...	Boomer (as Allan MacGillivray)
Florence Paterson	...	Mrs. Boyd
Karen Kennedy	...	WWN Newscaster (as Karen Kenedy)
Ken Ryan	...	Newscaster
Geoff Harrington	...	Vicious Trooper
Al Foster	...	Oldster
Hugh Orr	...	Squad Leader

Storyline

Two men and a woman circle the globe in a satellite armed with a nuclear device. The third world war breaks out, and a few months later the satellite crashes. They survive the crash but one man gets killed by survivors and the other man gets caught. The woman stays by the remains of the the satellite but is soon caught by evil punks who have taken power.

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Plot Keywords:

canuxploitation | post apocalypse | survival | remake | independent film | 

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Taglines:

The last defense. The last hope. The battle for the future of the world has begun.

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 March 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Condição de Defesa

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 1,750,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$210,904, 17 March 1985, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,057,064

Company Credits

Production Co:

New World Pictures, Salter Street Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) card is used as part of a tripwire for the trap on Vinny's farm that explodes approximately 30 minutes into the film. It is the real SIN card for Cordell Wynne, line producer for the movie, which reveals that his middle name is 'Gerald'.

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Goofs

Although the iconic movie poster gives the title as DEF-CON 4, it actually appears in the film's credits as DEFCON-4.

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Quotes

Vinny: What kind of areolas does she have? Pink, brown, or red?

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Crazy Credits

[Prologue title after credits] It is the day after tomorrow. The ultimate nuclear defense system has been perfected. Security has been achieved. Global conflict is now unthinkable.

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Connections

Referenced in Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987)

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Soundtracks

When Johnny Comes Marching Home
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Louis Lambert (as Patrick Gilmore)
Traditional melody
Performed by Lenore Zann and Florence Paterson

User Reviews

"Come on, come on. Let's go!"

This low-cost Canadian produced presentation is reasonably ordinary, but for its type not as terrible as it's made out to be. This is one of those films that the cover artwork always made it look quite interesting, but the synopsis on the back had less of an affect. A friend of mine convinced me to watch it, after the first half-hour I could see why because the story does such a great job setting up the highly-charged, innovative predicament (three astronauts in space watch on as world war three erupts with nuclear attacks on Earth) to only lose its way when a couple months later they crash-land back on earth then it becomes a very vanilla-like post-apocalyptic Sci-fi wasteland survival outing (of the very cheap, rancid b-grade kind) with some very unbelievably trite villains that come off more as joke than anything truly threatening. The head honcho played by Kevin King seemed more suited in a "Save by the Bell" episode, than as a ruthlessly imposing leader. At times I was waiting for cued laughter from an audience whenever he was on screen, as he came off more so a brat. Just as poor was Tim Choate in the leading role. Well more so eccentrically annoying. I found the support to be much better; Kate Lynch, Lenore Zann (running around in a school uniform), Maury Chaykin and John Walsch. The opening first half-hour is very well pulled off; with some striking visuals, solid set-designs and usefully gripping details. You could see where all the money went in to, but that could probably explain its weakly conceived abrupt ending. Maybe that had run out. Anyhow during its grounded action, it does create some nasty touches, edgy activity and cement an ugly intensity. Too bad it just too daft (simply lacking the colourful craziness) and at times incoherent. The story is straight-forward, although the script is flimsy and too black and white to make it completely fulfilling. Minimally junky and grim, if particularly plain post-nuke entertainment.