CRASH AND BURN (1990)

3 stars

88 Films. Blu Ray. 15th December

Directed by Charles Band this is a fun, if throwaway sci fi actioner – scripted by J.S. Cardone, though apparently one Dave Pabian knocked the script into shape. You also get effects directed by stop motion artist David Allen and Special Make up effects by Greg Cannom.

We are in the usual dystopian future – the ozone has been depleted and temperatures are rising all over America. UV levels are dangerous. Biker Tyson Keen (Paul Ganus) works for Unicom – the corporation that seems to run the world in this overheating world. He is heading to a TV studio, in the middle of nowhere, run by Lathan Hooks (Ralph Waite – pa Walton). Tyson is delivering freon to the remote location.

Unicom have banned the use of computers by civilians as they triggered the economic collapse – plus they have outlawed robots – due to something in the book of Revelations (who knew there were robots in the Bible!)

Tyson meets Arren (Megan Ward), Latham’s cute granddaughter. He spots an abandoned robot in the rubble outside – which Arren has been messing with to see if it’s still operable – which is against the law. We know (or at least hope) that it will figure in the plot later.

There is a thermal storm starting to close in, so Tyson has to stay the night there. Also in the building are Winston Wicket, who has a show on the station, along with two prostitutes, Sandra (Elizabeth Maclellan) and Christie (Katherine Armstrong), who he was interviewing. He also meets Quinn (Bill Moseley) and Parice (Eva LaRue), who is a schoolteacher out there in the wasteland.

As Lathan is checking some of the equipment he is attacked and killed by an unknown assailant. This knocks out the power. An alarm sounds, waking everyone, as the temperature skyrockets.

Arren believes her grandfather was murdered, and whilst she is investigating, finds his computer and realises he was part of the resistance. Can they restore the power and work out who the killer is – as it is probably one of them… there is a sequence where they test their blood, which echoes John Carpenter’s THE THING.

This is an enjoyable diversion which uses its location well, has an attractive cast, some nudity, a smattering of gory violence, a Terminator style robotic villain and, hoorah, we do eventually get a stop motion animated giant robot – recycled from ROBOT JOX (1989) – in the final minutes. The film is well lit and shot by Mac Ahlberg (a frequent Band collaborator). It was remastered from the recently unearthed negative (maybe it was buried under the robot).

It was sold as Robot Jox 2 is some territories.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS

Two Audio Commentaris – with Director Charles Band & Actor Bill Moseley/by Film Journalists Dave Wain and Matty Budrewicz

Making of Crash & Burn

Blooper Reel/Remastered Original Trailer

Reversible sleeve featuring new art by Joel Robinson and rigid slipcase with initial release.