Dead-End Drive In (1986)

Director:

Brian Trenchard-Smith

Writers:

Peter Carey (story)
Peter Smalley (written by)

Release Date:

August 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

There's a party every day, a movie every night, and all the junk food you can eat. What more can a kid want... except to get out.

Plot:

In the near future, drive-in theatres are turned into concentration camps for the undesirable and unemployed...

Plot Keywords:

Drive In | Drive In Theater | Song | Tow Truck | Electric Fence

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ned Manning	...	Crabs
Natalie McCurry	...	Carmen
Peter Whitford	...	Thompson
Wilbur Wilde	...	Hazza
Dave Gibson	...	Dave
Sandie Lillingston	...	Beth
Ollie Hall	...	Frank
Lyn Collingwood	...	Fay
Nikki McWaters	...	Shirl
Melissa Davis	...	Norelie
Margi Di Ferranti	...	Jill
Desirée Smith	...	Tracey
Murray Fahey	...	Mickey
Jeremy Shadlow	...	Jeff
Brett Climo	...	Don

Also Known As:

Dead End (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

88 min | USA:92 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

New South Wales Film Corp.

Trivia:

On the audio commentary for the Region 1 DVD, director Brian Trenchard-Smith states that U.S. distributor New World Pictures originally planned to follow the example set by American International and their release of MAD MAX by issuing the movie with a new voice track featuring American performers revoicing the Australian actors. However, the dubbing turned out so poorly, the company decided to release the film with the original performances intact.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Crabs: Beauty!

Movie Connections:

References First Blood (1982)

Soundtrack:

Small Brave Land

An explosive sci-fi thriller, above average.

I really enjoyed Dead End Drive In. This is a sci-fi film with great looking sets, decent acting and an illogical story line. Put it all together and add a few explosions and you have a fantastic ride.

The film tells the story of Crabs a young man who borrows his brother's car and goes to the drive in with a date. Then the government steals his tires and he is forced to live at the Drive In with about a hundred other teens who are also stuck there. It is never clearly explained WHY the government wants them to stay there (or even which government). Director Brian Trenchard-Smith makes the most of the story and pulls off some rather clever camera work. An aside from a racism subplot that is never really resolved, the story never drags. The sets are very extravagant and include some very funny touches (a poster for Rambo 8 hangs in one scene). Overall, the film is fun and is really good for anyone who likes futuristic, tongue in cheek sci-fi flicks.