"DEATH WARMED UP" (Pure Terror 50 Movies Pack, #17)

DEATH WARMED UP

Alternate Titles:
Neuro Killers / Death Warmed Over

German Title:
Robot Maniac

New Zealand / Australia, 1984
Director: David Blyth

6,5/10

A weird down-under film, far from being perfect and even farther from the genius of a Peter Jackson, but still highly interesting and fascinating in some... um, weird kinda way.

What's good:
It's an absolutely fantastic-looking b-movie, due to loads of awesome styled settings / filming locations and a few brilliantly and memorable set pieces / scenes (the scene with the torches in the dark tunnel system, the terrific-looking padded cell, the motorcycle chase in the excellently lighted corridors, the fire scene, the powerpole finale, etc. etc.)

It's also packed with glorious / disgusting gore and gruesome kills (an exploding brain, 2 gross brain-operations, gory stabbings, gory shootings, mutilated bodies, electrocutions etc. etc.).

Furthermore, the camera work is very good and the synth-soundtrack is pretty cool.

What's bad:

The plot sucks hard and makes not much sense; same goes for the muddled script. The characters are all either cliché-ridden or just plain stupid. Most of the acting is rather weak 

(exceptions: the 'young Martin Gore' look-a-like Michael Hurst and the entertaining David Letch).

There are also too many dull/boring scenes in the first half

Overall an overseen and underrated little 80s gem that needs to be rediscovered.

Imdb

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