May 30, 2024
The Aftermath (1982)
"What happens when you die?"
"I don't know, son. No one does."
"It's sad to die."
"No. Death isn't sad. We all have to die. What's sad is having to go on without someone you love. Just as we have to go on now."
#the aftermath#1982#video nasty#horror imagery#steve barkett#stanley livingston#post apocalyptic film#horror film#american cinema#lynne margulies#sid haig#christopher barkett#alfie martin#forrest j. ackerman#jim danforth#linda stiegler#laura anne barkett#larry latham#carole scott#nelson ackerman#john w. morgan#incredibly dumb passion project from writer‚ director and star Barkett; he spent years getting this made‚ burning through investors and#deals whilst trying to maintain the integrity of his vision (his silly‚ silly vision). to be clear‚ this is a lot of fun to watch but not#all of that fun is intentional; the back third of this movie contains a shootout so absurdly long‚ so gratuitously violent (and with a#preposterous location change from the desert to some ruined city skyscraper tops) that it beggars belief. likewise Barkett's self insertion#as the Ultimate Action Man Hero who by the end of the film comes to resemble more of a post apocalyptic christlike figure of spiritual#salvation. it's a dumb film is what I'm saying‚ but Sid Haig is there and it all looks unreasonably good and the matte paintings are weirdl#excellent (and the fx are solid too‚ model spaceships aside). ridiculous stuff but made with clear love and self belief#in such a way that it can only end up being endearing. a pleasant surprise in my deep dive into the more obscure nasties#it's been a rough ride recently but a few more brain numbing entries like this and I'll be back on board