When asked “what is the biggest influence behind Mad Max Road Warrior” George Miller named the 1975 classic “A Boy and His Dog”. Note do not venture fourth those with weak stomachs
Set in an alternative history where world war three and four destroy the entire of America, leaving it a desolate wasteland where only the strong survive. In the year 2024 march a young male named Vic (Don Johnson) and his trusty dog Blood who communicate with each other via a psychic link. Blood needs Vic to get him food whilst Vic needs Blood to find the only thing this boy wants, women. Eventually through there travels among the dwellers of this barren land they find a woman that shows them a sanctuary that may be even worse then the world they already know.
Thats really all I can say about the plot as I would much rather people watched the movie, don’t even pay for it its on both prime and multiple youtube links here (…) go nuts. Its a science fiction classic based on the short story by Harlan Ellison and is undoubtedly the only filmed version of his work to only leave him fuming with anger as appose to the usual “I’m going to find, hurt you, kill you and deficate on your grave” which he is far more prone to do. Its a beautifully bleak movie as it examines the human condition and says that when the apocalypse comes we will not work together or go on fun loving adventures like most apocalyptic movies say, instead taking a more cynical view that there will be no good or bad, only the bad and the evil. Ostensible out hero is Vic as he is the main human but he is introduced to us by discovering a raped, mutilated and dead woman before remarking “they didn’t have to cut her! She could have been used three or four more times.” This showcases both the brutality of this world and the tragic realistic version of the apocalypse. Where those raised in it only look out for themselves and is unforuntalty telling that the most human characters is a dog.
Don't get me wrong though this movie is brutal but its also very campy and full of good fun. Dark humour fills the whole film, from the upbeat sound track over images of the poor and destitute, Vic’s only life goal being to “find a chick” and the premise of a dog and the guy from Miami vice talking to each other through telepathy. I must also take time out to complement the films art department who did a fantastic job building a believable, though bizarre world of the desert dwellers with there shacks, converted vehicles and only entertainment, a homemade outdoor porno cinema. I won't even spoil the other world created within the film, ill just say you got to see them to believe them.
Outside of the fact it is a good science fiction film that showcases an interesting concept through bible black humour it is (too me) most interesting as a piece of science fiction history. The initial thought that has unleashed the post apocalyptic aesthetic onto the movie screen. If you are a fan of Mad Max, Fallout, Book of Eli or any movie where characters wonder a desert located on at the end of civilisation then you can enjoy this masterpiece that started it all.
However I will not lie to you. If you have issues with seeing violence against women and characters that are not good people (even the dog can be a real son of a bitch) then you may not enjoy this movie. The movie also has some what weird and even slow passing at points and lacks highly in the action science we today would expect from something that influenced Mad Max. I still however found myself really enjoying this movie and although I can't imagine revisiting it its something I would still recommend, though I can understand complaints against it from those listed bellow to some of the more hockey and dated material that comes with watching older scoff movies. For me though, that all part of the fun.
4/5
