Dead End Drive In [DVD] [1986]

In the near future (that is, 1994) the world is brought to the brink of anarchy by, for some reason, inflation. This has apparently caused millions of rusted car frames to be scattered around Australia, and forced everyone to dress like hepped up punk rockers and fight with tire irons. Thusly, the government tricks the unemployed people into drive ins and locks them up. This clever ruse works despite the fact that no one in Australia ever returns from the movies. If you like movies which are both painfully bad and jaw-droppingly amazing, this is the film for you. What doesn't it have? There is pointless nudity, vast continuity problems, tire fires, dozens of Mad Max meets the Sex Pistols montages, a fight with cricket bats,a timeless lesson about racism/relationships/junk food, a fight with car parts, amazing hairstyles, a monkey smoking pot, vigilante tow truck squads, and plot holes you could drive one of their combat ready tonka's through. This is an excellent cultural artifact shedding light on the eighties, sub-cultures, and Australian psychoses. Don't expect it to be good, but prepare for it to be amazing.

Having just viewed Brian Trenchard Smith's Godawful 'Escape 2000', I thought I was in for another horrible outing. But it was already in my cue, and had already shipped, and I have a hard time saying no to most movies, So I popped this puppy in. Though not great by any means, it was considerably better than Escape 2000.

Here's the scoop. The world is breaking down. Economic ruin is everywhere. Punk thugs are taking over the streets and towing companies fight over the rights to tow freshly crashed vehicles. Our hero borrows his brother's car to take his gal to a drive in movie. While they're there the cops steal two of his wheels. He now finds he can't leave and this place actually turns out to be a kind of concentration camp where the inmates spend their days primping, getting high and watching earlier Brian Trenchard Smith movies.

This is more than a bit strange. It seems to deal with much of what must have been happening in Australia at the time. Part deals with the car culture and it's subsequent body count. Then there are the disenfranchised youth. All the inmates in this camp are punked out with spiked Mohawks, way over the top make-up and clothes. Then they bring in the fear of foreigners aspect. As Asians are trucked into the camp the inmates shout "No Asians." Funny they would feel the need to be politically correct while shouting at those they both fear and loathe. There is also a conspiracy side to this. The theatre owner tracks all inmates on a computer and the officials bring in drugs, a' la the CIA, to keep everybody happy and in line.

This is certainly directed much better than 'Escape 2000' but it still has some major screw-ups. At the climax, our hero does something so unbelievably stupid it boggles the mind. The movie is spotted with some very dumb stuff. Plus, I'm not certain what Smith was getting at. If this is a government project then why are these young people content to while away their days with nothing to do and no desire to escape. Who is it Smith is pointing a finger at? The production design is also better than 'Escape 2000.' The sets and props look more real. Overall this was a much better outing and it clocks in at under ninety minutes so one's patience isn't put to the test.

This probably amounts to more of an historical curiosity than anything else. If you need to fill in some gaps in your film history then have at it. If not, you're not hurting yourself by letting this slip by.

This one has it all.There's violence,sex,car chases,explosions,cheezy '80s music,a '56 Chevy,and most importantly a drive-in! In a futuristic 1990 the government is keeping the unemployed youth locked up in a drive-in and giving them snack bar food,drugs,beer,and all night movies for free.Where do I sign up? Yes it's a bit silly at times,and the premise is unbelievable,but after all it's a "B" film.You just can't expect perfection in films like these,and I (for one) wouldn't have it any other way.There's nothing like stepping back to a simpler time and place.This fine little independent film from Down Under is just like taking a mini vacation in the way back machine.Pop this one in the DVD break out the popcorn and a cold Fosters and enjoy this blast from the past....8)

8/10 on the Drive-in-Freak-O-Meter...ya just gotta check this out!

In the near future (that is, 1994) the world is brought to the brink of anarchy by, for some reason, inflation. This has apparently caused millions of rusted car frames to be scattered around Australia, and forced everyone to dress like hepped up punk rockers and fight with tire irons. Thusly, the government tricks the unemployed people into drive ins and locks them up. This clever ruse works despite the fact that no one in Australia ever returns from the movies. If you like movies which are both painfully bad and jaw-droppingly amazing, this is the film for you. What doesn't it have? There is pointless nudity, vast continuity problems, tire fires, dozens of Mad Max meets the Sex Pistols montages, a fight with cricket bats, a timeless lesson about racism/relationships/junk food, a fight with car parts, amazing hairstyles, a monkey smoking pot, vigilante tow truck squads, and plot holes you could drive one of their combat ready tonka's through. This is an excellent cultural artifact shedding light on the eighties, sub-cultures, and Australian psychoses. Don't expect it to be good, but prepare for it to be amazing.

I saw this movie in 1987/8 when it was shown on the Canadian pay TV channel and I enjoyed it. It's not a deep or intellectual movie by any stretch of the imagination but it's very entertaining (in a Mad Max kind of way). The fact that most of the movie takes place in the very limited set of the drive-in gets a bit tiresome after a while but all in all it was worth watching.