R4 DVD
Madman
Entertainment
Dead End Drive-In is a classic example of
Australian genre cinema, ozploitation at its most bizarre. This was the
Eighties when Post Apocalyptic cinema ruled and Mad Max was the success story
of the day. Cult film director Brian Trenchard-Smith was a rather successful
maverick filmmaker and decided to have a go at making a film of the short story
Crabs by well known Australian author Peter Carey.
The opening titles set the scene: race
wars in South Africa, a second Wall Street crash and huge riots during
Australia’s bicentennial year, a prelude to the use of emergency powers by the
government. You think you are in for a serious examination of the state of a
world in decline, and then the film starts....
Crabs is a skinny runt, his brother is big
and strong and runs a pick-up truck company which must fight against other
companies, corrupt police and gangs of car obsessed street trash to make his
living. Crabs yearns to be like his big brother but instead works as a delivery
boy in a mini. The first scenes of the film illustrate the two major themes
which run throughout, cars and post apocalyptic culture. I certainly thought
the second Wall Street fall and the collapse of financial systems rather ominous
considering the state of the present day world economic system.
Crabs convinces his brother to lend him
his Chevy (his brothers pride and joy). He decides to use it to impress
Carmen his girlfriend and go to the drive in a goodtime. When they arrive they
find Turkey Shoot (another Trenchard-Smith spectacular) on the big screen, not
that they see any of it. In the middle of their rather passionate lovemaking
the car grinds and lurches and Crabs finds his wheels have been stolen.
However, it doesn’t end there, they have been taken by the police who patrol
the drive-in and hence getting them back is not an option.
In the morning they try and report them
stolen and discuss getting home and get a very rude shock. There is no
transport or cabs from the drive-in and the highway that leads to it is
patrolled as a no walking zone and those caught get three months in jail. It
seems the drive-in is used by the government as an unofficial youth prison to
get trouble makers off the street. Crabs and Carmel must now live on the free
junk food and drugs provided and turn the car into their home.
In a world with rampant youth crime and
violence, the “Dead End Drive-In” seems to be the government’s solution to
street crime. However, Crabs is not seduced by this supposedly easy life and
wants out. Of course, this is not as simple as it seems as he must battle
against petty criminals, others who want his car parts and the police and
government.
This is a strange and rather silly film
which brings together what seems to be the major obsessions of Australia in the
Eighties – cars and the Apocalypse. This is no Mad Max, but it is fun,
eccentric and above all great exploitation cinema. There is lots of action,
lots of flesh and lots of teen rebellion. Cars, accidents and road wars rule
and the fight scenes are kind of cool.
This release from Madman is faultless, to
the honest the perfect quality of the print, which literally has no signs of
wear, is probably far more than the film deserves!! The sound is Dolby Digital
2.00 and so clear your ears will complain about the constant Eighties
soundtrack.
This review will appear in Volume 2:1
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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