Review of Logan's Run (1976) by Jonathan B — 17 Dec 2014

Where Logan's Run suffers is in the rather second rate Star Trek costumes and some poor model shots. However, put these quibbles to one side and we have a great dystopian future story that had a massive influence.

Logan's Run is set in a seemingly idyllic, domed city where humans live indulgent lives. At the age of 30, everyone must attend "Carousel", a ceremony that promises them the chance of rebirth.

Logan has the job of hunting down and killing people who wish to escape this fate by becoming "Runners". After an encounter with one such Runner, Logan is sent on a mission to uncover the underground group that helps the Runners reach the promise of Sanctuary.

Michael York is terrific in the lead role as Logan and well supported by Jenny Agguter as Jessica. The scenes showing Carousel are effective and creepy and there's some nice post-apocolyptic views of Washington once the pair get out of the dome.

Peter Ustinov gets a significant role as a rather lovely, cat-obsessed old man and Farrah Fawcett is memorable as a plastic surgery nurse. For a science fiction film from this rather fallow, early 1970s pre-Star Wars era to have remained so fresh is something of an accomplishment and Logan's Run is still good today.

There are a few hippy 70s references that don't hold up that well but this is still a movie where class shines through. A very effective score helps give it a futuristic feel and this movie remains a firm favourite of mine.