The success of ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) and THE ROAD WARRIOR (1981) sparked a movement of post-apocalyptic imitations. Always ready to develop burgeoning cinematic trends, Italian exploitation filmmakers jumped on the craze. Traditionally set in a Manhattan wasteland, these action-packed films offer gritty New York glamour on a shoestring budget. Unlike other Italian film trends, the post-apocalyptic fad burnt fast and bright, with 1984 marking the end of the era. However, more than fifteen movies were made during the two-year boom by directors such as Lucio Fulci, Ruggero Deodato and Sergio Martino.
1990: THE BRONX WARRIORS
Dir. Enzo G. Castellari, 1982
Italy, 92 min
In English
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 – 10 PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 – 7:30 PM
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 – MIDNIGHT
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28 – 10 PM
1990. The Bronx is officially declared “no man’s land.” From then on, the borough is ruled by the Riders. Anne, a wealthy Manhattan heiress, hopes to escape her family’s greed and seeks refuge in the Bronx. When Anne’s father discovers she’s gone, he sends a murderous cop to retrieve her. Anne’s only hope lies with the Riders and their knowledge of the many rival crews that control the neighborhood.
The first, and arguably coolest, in the Italian post-apocalyptic subgenre, 1990: THE BRONX WARRIORS (1982) is dripping in style and sleaze. Directed by THE INGLORIOUS BASTARDS (1978) director Enzo G. Castellari and starring the late Vic Morrow in the year before his death on the set of TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (1983). From its soundtrack to its codenames, costume design to its set pieces, it’s easy to see how 1990: THE BRONX WARRIORS influenced so many other films in the subgenre, including a sequel ESCAPE FROM THE BRONX (1983) and a pseudo-sequel THE NEW BARBARIANS (1983).
2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK
Dir. Sergio Martino, 1983
Italy, 96 min
In English
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4 – MIDNIGHT
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14 – 10 PM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26 – 5 PM
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – 10 PM
Nuclear war has decimated the planet and left humans sterile. In the aftermath, two factions emerged: the evil Euraks and the rebel Federation. The Federation recruit a mercenary, Parsifal, to infiltrate New York City and retrieve Melissa, the last fertile woman on Earth. With the clock ticking, the fate of the human race rests in Parsifal’s hands.
The plot of 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK (1983) might sound a lot like Alfonso Cuaŕon’s CHILDREN OF MEN (2006), both even including scenes backdropped against Picasso’s ‘Guernica’. However, don’t let the similarities fool you. 2019: AFTER THE FALL OF NEW YORK is a high-octane gorefest featuring Nazis, ape mutants, and armoured-car dune races. Directed by legendary Italian B-movie director Sergio Martino.
ENDGAME
Dir. Joe d’Amato, 1983
Italy, 98 min
In English
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6 – 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 – MIDNIGHT
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21 – 7:30 PM
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – 10 PM
The year is 2025, a nuclear holocaust has left New York a wasteland. The televised battle royal show ENDGAME plagues the airwaves. Ron Shannon, 22-time ENDGAME champion, must assemble a team to lead a group of mind-reading mutants to salvation or face certain extinction.
With a bleak atmosphere and desolate set pieces, ENDGAME (1983) is an impressive low-budget adventure film. Like Lucio Fulci’s WARRIORS OF THE YEAR 2027 (1983), ENDGAME uses a lethal game show to levy poignant socioeconomic commentary atop an exploitation film. With veteran genre director Joe D’Amato at the helm and a cast of Italian cult royalty including Al Cliver, Laura Gemser and George Eastman, ENDGAME is a must-see for genre fans.