Review of Deathsport (1978) by Fazeo F — 29 Aug 2010

Deathsport (7/10) - I will make no bones about it, this 1978 Roger Corman produced sci-fi actioner has some woeful acting and dialogue and not much of a story, yet I found it highly entertaining. David Carradine plays some sort of mystical warrior in the future as he goes against an evil lord and his top henchman Richard Lynch. Deathsport is basically Death Race 2000 on motorcycles sans any social commentary or followable plot.

The script is all over the place and the film is loaded with sci-fi cliches but this film was a lot of fun to watch. Lynch is always a great baddie and though Carradine sleepwalks and babbles throughout the dialogue scenes, he more than makes up for it in the numerous action scenes, including doing a lot of his own stunts including a cool stunt where another motorcycle speeds over his bike as he lays underneath it.

The film offers non-stop action which consists of mostly motorcycle chases and bike stunts. Though the futuristic "death machines" are just modded motorcycles, the stunt work is quite impressive in the film, and I found the action quite exciting for a lower budget film.

Since this is a Roger Corman film, there has to be some gratuitous T&A and the scenes involving the evil lord's sex room are a hoot. This surreal sex room is basically a bunch of Christmas lights stung inside long plastic tubes that hang from the ceiling, apparently these tubes get women horny as they start cavorting around nude inside the room.

Another laughable aspect of the film are the mutants that wander the wasteland. If these things were supposed to be scary they weren't, unless you find a bunch of grimy guys wearing fake Marty Feldman type eyes frightening, ok actually they are creepy but for the wrong reasons.

I have to say one thing I did love about the film were the characters names, they are so goofy I found them endearing. You know you are watching 70s sci-fi with names like Kaz Oshay, Lord Zirpola and Ankar Moor.

For a film that gets little respect it actually comes with quite a few extras in its new DVD from Shout Facatory. Deathsport comes in a double feature DVD along with another Corman sci-fi action film Battletruck. Both films come with audio commentaries, trailers and radio spots. Deathsport is presented with a decent anamorphic print whereas Battletruck is presented in full frame 1.33:1.

Deathsport is not a classic, but I can't say it isn't worth watching since it offers up solid B Movie action and thrills. Just don't go in expecting a coherent plot or quality acting.