Set in a tightly-controlled, but nondescript futuristic society (1995 apparently. Oops!) where so-called ‘deviants’ are sent to rehabilitation camps (or prisons as us normal folk would call ‘em) for much torture, harassment, and supposed re-programming to become obedient, docile conformists. Stoic freedom fighter Steve Railsback and meek Olivia Hussey are the newest arrivals, the former is your typical ‘dude who has escaped from every prison they’ve put him in’-type. Gee, I wonder if prissy Warden Thatcher (Michael Craig- love that oh-so subtle character name!) is gonna have a hard time keeping watch on him?

Bill Young and Lynda Stoner play fellow prisoners (the latter apparently a hooker), who along with our heroes are the human targets in a sadistic hunting game devised by the evil Craig for him and his pompous rich cronies to act out their blood lust. Each hunter has their own target (i.e. prisoner) and their own cool weapon. Carmen Duncan (decked out in rich girl riding garb) has a crossbow aimed at Stoner, whilst sissy Michael Petrovitch drives a jeep and comes armed with his own vicious wolf-man/circus freak (Steve Rackman). No, I’m not kidding. His own personal freak.

If the prisoners can evade the hunters for 24 hours, they will apparently win their freedom. Gus Mercurio (doing his best Charles McGraw from “Spartacus” impersonation) is the head guard, Roger Ward (wishing he was in a George Miller futuristic action flick instead of this one) is his shadow boxing chief bully.

Infamously bad 1981 Brian Trenchard-Smith (“The Man From Hong Kong”, a locally made kung-fu flick with Jimmy Wang Yu and the ‘other’ Bond as well as the kids cult classic “BMX Bandits”, and two of the “Leprechaun” sequels) directed, David Hemmings-produced (by his Hemdale Corporation) Aussie stinker (often regarded as one of the worst Aussie films of all-time), a cheapo futuristic rip-off of “Most Dangerous Game”, a story which seems to get remade or ripped off at least once every five years. Aside from an amusingly Ustinov-esque performance from the always camp Noel Ferrier (as a crooked pollie) and a gravel-voiced tough guy turn by Mercurio (yup, sissy Paul’s macho dad), this is too dull to be camp. American import Railsback (a genuinely talented actor) looks bored and uncomfortable playing the hero, Brit Hussey looks positively bewildered (However, unless she used a body double, I gotta say the gal has some nice jugs!), and Craig (yeah, the kindly doctor from Aussie TV’s long-running soap “G.P.”) hideously underplays his camp villain role. He even botches the usual ‘Sadistic warden addresses the new prisoners’ scene that usually does not call for much subtlety. Hussey in particular has one-note to play (wet blanket/scared rabbit) and doesn’t waver from it one bit (apparently she was a teeny bit scared of the Queensland wildlife whilst shooting the film!). Comparatively, Stoner has more notes to play, but isn’t even half as talented as Hussey (see “Romeo and Juliet” for starters). Duncan and especially the mincy Petrovitch are even worse; the former can’t decide if she’s playing Joan Collins or a Vulcan and ends up doing both (badly), and the latter is as campy as Ferrier but without the talent, and well, just...weird. Seriously, his werewolf/freak ‘companion’ (Rackman, under awful makeup) is one of the weirdest, dumbest and most inexplicable things I’ve ever seen in a film (apparently his name is Alph. Just thought you should know). Poor Ward, who excelled as Fifi in “Mad Max”, has a stupid role as a big burly guard who shows how manly he is by taking dopey air-swings at prisoners. Aussie character actor Young (perhaps best-known as Mr. Kelly’s brother on Aussie TV’s “Hey Dad!”) isn’t as talented as Railsback, but he sure shows more charisma in his small role than the American does in his lead turn (Did the director think he was getting Steve McQueen?).

It’s junk, but made by people mostly too incompetent to know how to make it entertaining junk. Every time I argue that Australian filmmakers need to get their heads out of their arses and make fun genre pieces, there’s this horrible film in the back of my mind, reminding me of what could be the result. And yet, this basic concept of the turkey shoot in a futuristic setting, could have produced the right kind of camp (“The Running Man” perfected it in 1987), but its’ inexplicable weirdness, cheapness (awful yellow jumpsuits, though Craig’s grey Blofeld outfit is just as much of a fashion crime), bad acting (who thought Craig could play a villainous warden? Really?!), and tedious prison scenes sink it. Ten points off for teasing a lesbian scene between Duncan and Stoner (albeit one with a probable unhappy ending) and then cutting away, never to return. That just p*sses me off royally.

Say what you will about Roger Corman, folks, but at least he’d know what to do with this concept (And in fact, the film plays like one of Corman’s Filipino-made women in prison flicks, but with all the ‘good stuff’ taken out). He’d also know what to do with meagre funds, something that apparently befell this film before shooting began as an investor pulled out and the script had to be shortened for budgetary reasons. Apparently the missing pages were a more detailed set-up, but not even that could have saved this (you guessed it) turkey. Score by Brian May (“Mad Max”, “Thirst”) is typically ghastly- starting with terrible orchestral stuff then goes into ear-splitting synth crappiness. May’s work makes one appreciate Tangerine Dream (“Near Dark”, “Legend”, “The Keep”) and Giorgio Moroder (“Flashdance”, “Midnight Express”, “Electric Dreams”) just that little bit more.

Seriously, who thought this cr*p was fit for release? No idea why it has such a reputation for being violent, and I saw it under the title “Turkey Shoot”, supposedly the uncut version (from what I’ve heard, Australia only has the uncut version anyway). There’s lots of explosions and gunfire, a bit of blood, but even the eye gouge and dismembered hands wouldn’t have been seen as that violent back in 1981 let alone now. Either way, I was expecting the gore to be non-stop from its reputation. Maybe I did see a cut version, given I watched it on cable TV, but in 2009 (and with an M rating), you’d think otherwise. Anyway, the director hasn’t got a clue how to direct gore or action sequences, it’s terribly sluggish and mundane, despite its superficial outrageousness. A blight on our film industry, and horrifically dull, but at least the locations are nicely used throughout. I also kinda like the film’s other alternate title “Blood Camp Thatcher” (yes, you guessed it, the film’s UK title), though this film would be even more disappointing under that delicious title.

The screenplay was written by Jon George and Neil Hicks, from a story by David Lawrence, George Schenck (“Futureworld”, the lesser sequel to the cult sci-fi flick “Westworld”), and Robert Williams. It took 5 people to write this garbage? Geez. Did they think up one cr*ppy idea apiece, or something? Part of me thinks this film needs to be more widely seen, at least in Australia just as a warning about how not to make an Aussie genre picture. We definitely need more of ‘em, just not like this one.

Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: DVD