Mad Max, still packs a mighty punch. While
Mad Max 2 aka
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) and the more recent
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) are better known and more widely seen by fans, the movie kickstarting one of the most iconic franchises of all time should not be forgotten. A pioneering sci-fi actioner made well outside the confines of Hollywood,
Mad Maxand its sequels spawned a wave of imitators.
A dystopian nightmare set in and around Melbourne, the Ozploitation masterpiece depicts a time and place bedevilled by demented biker gangs who have taken over the highways. A ragtag group of cops – known as the Main Force Patrol – engage them on the open road, fighting dirty to wrestle back control. The tit-for-tat skirmishes unfolds against a backdrop of social decay and a sense the world is falling apart rapidly. Amid the flesh and metal carnage carnival, a hero will rise, though he must first experience tragedy and the greatest loss.