Max Headroom (1985)

In the dystopic near future, a crusading TV reporter investigates news stories with the help of a wisecracking computer version of himself.

Directors:

Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton

Writers:

Steve Roberts (screenplay), George Stone (story)

Stars:

Matt Frewer, Nickolas Grace, Hilary Tindall

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Frewer	...	Edison Carter / Max Headroom
Nickolas Grace	...	Grossman
Hilary Tindall	...	Dominique
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Blank Reg (as Morgan Sheppard)
Amanda Pays	...	Theora Jones
Paul Spurrier	...	Bryce Lynch
Hilton McRae	...	Breugal
George Rossi	...	Mahler
Roger Sloman	...	Murray
Anthony Dutton	...	Gorrister
Constantine Gregory	...	Ben Cheviot
Lloyd McGuire	...	Edwards
Elizabeth Richardson	...	Ms. Formby
Gary Hope	...	Ashwell
Joane Hall	...	Body Bank Receptionist

Storyline

In the post-apocalyptic future where television sets are more important than food, TV ratings are the all important currency of the nation. A new technique of preventing viewers from channel surfing proves somewhat detrimental to particularly sedentary couch potatoes. The top studio becomes concerned: dead viewers make for low ratings. Edison Carter, top news reporter, is sent to find out more. After a motorcycle accident, his mind is preserved by wizz-kid Bryce and becomes his wise cracking, computer generated alter-ego: Max Headroom, who manages to boost ratings above those of any live hosts to date. This made for TV movie was later remade (sanitized version) as the first episode of the series.

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Plot Keywords:

television | woman sweating | alternate reality | f rated | satire | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 April 1985 (UK)

Also Known As:

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future

Filming Locations:

East Ham, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chrysalis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bryce Lynch was born on October 7, 1988.

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Quotes

Theora Jones: How's your head?
Edison Carter: Fine. How's yours?

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Crazy Credits

The credits roll over a shot of the overpass that our heroes just passed under. After a few minutes the van owned by the thugs that "killed" Edison passes under it - apparently going after our heroes.

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Wheel of the Worst #9 (2015)

User Reviews

A realistic look at a bleak future not far from now

Reporter Edison Carter discovers that an advertising medium developed by the TV network he works for is killing viewers. The network attempts to 'dispose' of him and replace him with a computer generated version. And so the story goes...

This is a really good film, taking the bleak vision of Blade-Runner and injecting a little 20th century realism. Set in a world where TV networks rule and the population is made up of couch potatoes who rarely venture into the desolation outside their doors, Max Headroom is frighteningly plausible and potentially very downbeat.

However, the story has enough lighter moments to balance the overall darkness of the film and together with a likeable and talented cast, this is a thoroughly enjoyable film that - like its content - was maybe a bit too ahead of its time. 10/10.