80s scifi with gladiatorial mangling machines?
March 6, 2012 5:20 PM Subscribe
Which film gave me twenty plus years of recurring nightmares about weird grindy cog machines coming to mangle me?
When I was a kid my dad used to take me to the cinema all the time, and we would basically see everything that was on, as long as it was a U or a PG. This was probably from about 5-12 - 1980 to 1987. One film stuck in my head and was the stuff of my nightmares for a long time and I'd really like to see it again!
What I remember-
It was a pulpy type of science fiction/harsh planet/Mad Max type of film
I don't think it can have been a big hit or I probably would have seen it again since then
I remember it being quite sandy
The bit that gave me nightmares- a kind of gladiator arena where humans compete against robot machines made up of grinding saws and turning teary things. This can't actually have been very gory or I wouldn't have been taken to see it, but it made an impression on me!
Not much to go on but if anyone can help, you guys can!
When I was a kid my dad used to take me to the cinema all the time, and we would basically see everything that was on, as long as it was a U or a PG. This was probably from about 5-12 - 1980 to 1987. One film stuck in my head and was the stuff of my nightmares for a long time and I'd really like to see it again!
What I remember-
It was a pulpy type of science fiction/harsh planet/Mad Max type of film
I don't think it can have been a big hit or I probably would have seen it again since then
I remember it being quite sandy
The bit that gave me nightmares- a kind of gladiator arena where humans compete against robot machines made up of grinding saws and turning teary things. This can't actually have been very gory or I wouldn't have been taken to see it, but it made an impression on me!
Not much to go on but if anyone can help, you guys can!
Response by poster: That looks like a quality film. It's certainly very similar to what I'm talking about and might be it so I'm going to check it out. However in my mind there was more of a real arena set up, maybe like a maze? And the machines were nastier. I think... it is hazy and of course this is only a trailer. :-/
It's from this era though, this kind of look and now you mention it, might well have been in 3D too...
posted by KateViolet at 5:40 PM on March 6, 2012
It's from this era though, this kind of look and now you mention it, might well have been in 3D too...
posted by KateViolet at 5:40 PM on March 6, 2012
Best answer: Maybe it was Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone which was similar and had Molly Ringwald.
posted by interplanetjanet at 5:43 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by interplanetjanet at 5:43 PM on March 6, 2012 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Also in 3d, Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone. It has some sort of indoor arena escape scene, as I recall. It's been a while. Scariest thing in it is Molly Ringwald.
But I bet you are thinking of Running Man.
posted by dirtdirt at 5:44 PM on March 6, 2012
But I bet you are thinking of Running Man.
posted by dirtdirt at 5:44 PM on March 6, 2012
Response by poster: YES! I just found that myself once I had Metal Storm to give me a headstart! Thanks - wow that was quick for something that's been bugging me most my life!
posted by KateViolet at 5:46 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by KateViolet at 5:46 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I mean yes to Spacehunter btw. Not Running Man, that was slicker and gorier.
posted by KateViolet at 5:46 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by KateViolet at 5:46 PM on March 6, 2012
Response by poster: PS Come on, how can you say this isn't scary? Look at that mangling machine! http://io9.com/spacehunter/
posted by KateViolet at 5:47 PM on March 6, 2012
posted by KateViolet at 5:47 PM on March 6, 2012
If that freaked you out, you might (or might not) want to take a gander at Tetsuo: The Iron Man.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 6:21 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 6:21 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Darn it, I was so excited to come and tell you your movie was Dune! Fighting machine thing, lots of sand, came out in 1984. Oh well.
posted by milk white peacock at 8:43 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by milk white peacock at 8:43 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the recommendation Johnny. Milk white peacock (love your name!) - thanks anyway. Dad took me to see Dune too but it didn't give me nightmares, just blew my mind a bit... Looking at these films I also realise they were actually 15s - seems my parents and the local cinema were pretty relaxed about film classifications!
posted by KateViolet at 4:08 AM on March 7, 2012
posted by KateViolet at 4:08 AM on March 7, 2012
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It's really bad. But in 3D, which might have made it extra scary. Available on Netflix.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 5:27 PM on March 6, 2012 [1 favorite]