DEFCON-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.

---

Plot Keywords:

canadian science fiction | gagged | canuxploitation | post apocalypse | survival | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Nemesis mission is a joint Canadian-US space station, as evidenced by the Canadian and American flags on the space suit that Capt. Walker wears for a repair spacewalk.

---

Goofs

The coordinates for the uncontaminated survival station, 62.17.20N 19.02.40E, are actually in the Gulf Of Bothnia between Sweden and Finland and there is no land mass there.

---

Quotes

Gideon Hayes: Okay, Boomer. How do you want your steak cooked?

---

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.

---

Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Cybernator, Panther Squad, and Project Metalbeast (2019)

---

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

Grim Canadian post-apocalyptic flick.

Bleak sci-fi begins with three astronauts who are forced to crashland on post-nuke earth after a nuclear holocaust. Much of the population has been wiped out, but those who remain are either savage mutant cannibals (who are first seen carving meat slices off of a severed leg) or unbelievably sadistic punks who imprison innocent people in a slave camp and are led by a fascist Hitler clone (Kenneth King). The special effects work (especially at the beginning) is good, the cast tries and there are some interesting things that happen, but overall it's a grim and unenjoyable film. The script could have used a polish or two.

Score: 3 out of 10

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:

CAD1,750,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$210,904, 17 March 1985

Gross USA:

$1,057,064

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$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