DEFCON 4

US, 1984, 83 minutes, Colour.
Lenore Zann, Maury Chaykin, Kate Lynch.
Directed by Paul Donovan.

Defcon 4 is a grim nuclear story. It takes place in 'the day after tomorrow'. All nuclear systems are in place. The film focuses on three astronauts who find that how have been Trapped in Moscow; there is retaliation and nuclear destruction. When they land, they are taken prisoner by a young upstart who rules the area and wants to avoid radiation by finding a survival centre. The expected clashes take place with a touch of sadistic brutality. while the action is predictable, it is an '30s version of old-fashioned B-budget science fiction and serials. There is some moralising - and a kind of optimistic ending stating that the final battle has been won. It seems to be that the goodies defeated the baddies. Nevertheless, a film showing the nuclear concerns of the '80s and their treatment by film-makers catering to the mass audience.

1. Interesting thriller? Tough? Nuclear message? The future?

2. Colour photography, space atmosphere, the spacecraft, the nuclear devastated world and its squalor? Special effects? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on the nuclear age, spacecraft, nuclear destruction, death camps?

4. The focus on the astronauts, their mission, the background of the Star Wars defence systems and secrecy? Their mission? internal clashes - Jordan and her irritation, Howe and his video of his wife, Talker and command? The information about the nuclear bomb in Russia, the retaliation? Their decisions in letting their nuclear bombs go? The rationale of their decisions? Their continued circling the earth? The landing? Jordan's injury? The decision of Howe and Talker? Walker's being dragged out, his hand, death? Howe and his decision to leave the craft?

5. Howe as hero: in the spacecraft, with his wife, clashes with Walker and Jordan? His leaving the tape for Jordan? His venturing out, the brutality of the cannibals? Being caught by Vinnie? being captured, M. and the possible escape, trying to do deals about the food? Captured by Tacey? The deal with Gideon? Imprisonment? Finding Jordan? The build-up to the trial and the hanging? His volunteering to pull the lever, the escape? His getting the machines and the attack? The rescue? Swimming to the boat, not wanting J.J. be killed? The finale and the happy ending? Survival? The emotional side of Me, his wife's death, his concern about Jordan and am?

6. Walker and his life on the spacecraft, watching television, advances to Jordan? His final decision? Death?

7. Jordan, her talking to Howe, her injury, capture, to he hanged, attending Gideon after his being shot, trying to poison him, Gideon turning the syringe on herself?

2. Tinnie and his capture of Me, his deals, imprisonment of J.J. his being captured, to be executed, escape, the firing squad, his begging and his death?

9. Gideon and J. J. and her story about being at school, the helicopter, survival, her boyfriend Gideon and her breaking with him? Being with Vinnie? Gideon's disdain? Her rejecting his trial, to be hanged? The rescue? On the boat? Her knocking Lacey over, knocking Gideon? The happy ending? Gideon, as villain, his parents, the escape, Lacey as a Marine? Ruling the camp? Tyranny, the people subservient, the trials and the hangings? His ironic style? Being shot by Boomer (and his callous treatment of him to let the information, with the stake)? His turning the syringe on Jordan? The escape, shooting the soldiers, his being pushed overboard and drowning? Lacey and his callous militaristic attitude? Loyalty, death?

10. The military types, their patrolling of the camp, the prisoners and their maltreatment, putting burdens, being shot, the old woman who stole the can of peaches and her being imprisoned? Boomer and his information, humiliation, crawling to save those to be hanged?

11. The futuristic scenario, nuclear warfare, the effects on human beings and their callousness and cruelty? Optimism about survival?