HARDWARE

UK, 1990, 94 minutes, Colour.
Dylan Mc Dermott, John Lynch, Stacy Travis, Carl Mc Coy, Iggy Pop, Mark Northover, William Hootkinis.
Directed by Richard Stanley.

This is a small budget science fiction feature that was unexpectedly very popular. Filmed in the video-clips style, with emphasis on the effects, music, cyber-punk, and the feel of the film rather than on plot and acting, it nevertheless has enough energy and uses the conventions of this kind of weapons-monsters-silent heroes and put-upon heroines, to prevent it being merely a young filmmaker’s self-indulgent movie or a corny variation on popular themes.

The South African director went on to make Devil Dust, was fired from the ill-fated The Island of Dr Moreau but continued to write and direct short films and documentaries.

1. The initial work of Richard Stanley? His background? Career? Young, working with a low-budget? Ideas, other science fiction, monster movies? Conventions of the genres? Cult film?

2. Post-apocalyptic world, nuclear disaster, radioactive earth, the sea gone, the desert? New York City? The apartments?

3. The musical score, the songs, cyber-punk? The many singers and musicians in the cast?

4. The visuals, the sets, costumes and decor, post-modern? The post-apocalyptic landscapes? The religious imagery, suggestions of crucifixion…?

5. Nomad, wandering the desert, his character, the discovery of the robotic head, his travelling to New York City, selling the head?

6. The nature of the robotic head, appearances, qualities, modern art? Its eruption? Its devastation? Cyborg activity? The military project, abandoned?

7. Moses, his character, in New York, his relationship with Jill, buying the head, giving it to Jill as a gift, her art work, the decision to use the head?

8. The range of supporting characters? Shades and his being wasted? Angry Bob, the DJ? Lincoln?

9. The head erupting as a monster, rebuilding itself, the amount of devastation, blood and gore, the range of its victims?

10. The rampage, Jill as the target, the destruction?

11. A cult film for enthusiasts of this kind of science fiction and fantasy?