AN ENRAGED NEW WORLD (2002)

Reviewed By-Devin Kelly
CAST: George N. Thompson, Brian Klapstein, Jeanette Baker, Marc Isaacson, Kelsa Shilanski, Dominic Fantazzi, Gordon Mitchell, Tim Jahn, Brandon Baca, Ty Keltner, Adam Kelley, Jennifer Jones, Joshua Thompson, Chris Geer, Wayne Horine, Matt Rogers, Michael Lovecraft, Chris Bernt, Greg S. Campbell, Aren Callahan, Craig Stephenson, Tyler Williams, Raymond L. Martinez, Charles C. Pierce, Gerald Green, Ian Billigton, John T. Bolds, Jason Sanders, Mike Martinez, Sally Rafson, Britt Arneson, Molly Moore, Monica Shroyer, Mitchell Bachman

DIRECTOR: Mike A. Martinez
PRODUCER(S): Mike A. Martinez, Fred Anderson, Anatoly Antohin, George N. Thompson
Scythe Productions
VIDEO SOURCE: VHS Courtesy of Mike Martinez
RUNNING TIME: 48 min. 47 seconds



If ever there was a film that could be held up as an appropriate homage to European cult cinema, AN ENRAGED NEW WORLD (2002) would be that film. A fun trip that would easily blend in with Italian action of the 1980's, director Mike Martinez and friends have proven to not only be adventurous film makers, but huge cult flick fans as well. They all take an approach to the film that gives off the feeling that AN ENRAGED NEW WORLD is a labour of love, which in turn gives it an enjoyable atmosphere.

A nice batch of stock footage explosions blast through as the credits roll to the original techno score stylings of Brandon Brooks. After seven years of being thought missing and presumed deceased when they lost contact with Earth on their mission to Jupiter's moon Ganymede, three determined astronauts have finally found home again. Corporal Roger Corman (George N. Thompson), Captain Murdoch (Brian Klapstein), and highly trained John Stryker (Marc Isaacson) took part in the first manned deep space shuttle mission when they charted themselves for Ganymede. Little did they know that it would be seven long years of trying to get back. Now our heroes from the stars have returned to Mother Earth...or have they? "I can't believe it! After seven years in this tin can", exclaims Corporal Corman. It sure as hell isn't what it used to be.

   

It looks like Earth. It rotates like Earth. It produces like Earth. It's desolate, post-apocalyptic appearance and feel though has it resembling a backwards clone. Our three explorers don't take long to discover that this "new" Earth is a harsh one...more unforgiving than the one they used to know. It doesn't help that there's legions of army fatigues clad, gas mask wearing killers roaming the uncertain and dangerous planet. One of my favorite moments gives us our first look at these inhuman snipers as one shuffles into the frame in a great little nod to Jorge Grau's LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE (1974), M-16 clutched in hands, ready to kill. And kill he does...

Survival is the name of the game here and the order of the day is to eliminate the hostile ones of this enraged new world. Corporal Roger Corman will find out all of this the hard way when he is eventually left to himself after certain events unfold. One man and his gun...a world of assassins. Will the circumstances be too much for even this decorated man of uniform to take on? Surely it would be enough to drive even the sanest of men crazy. Can Corman hold it together, or has it already fallen apart for him? Check out this well done little indie to find out the whole story.

Director Mike A. Martinez honestly has done a great job with this campy little flick and really knows how to cater to the Italian cult audience. Mike makes all sorts of Euro-cult acknowledgements, from lead character Cpl. Roger Corman's Maurizio Merli traits, to a huge poster for Antonio Margheriti's YOR, HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE (1982) hanging in a living room, to Umberto Lenzi's ALMOST HUMAN (1980) playing on a television set. He also borrows from the scores of veteran Italian composer Francesco De Masi, which go along quite well with the fast paced original main theme. Many of the scenes are inspired by past sequences from several of the Italian action and horror flicks Mike has passionately loved and endlessly studied over the years. His amazing web site Kult Movies Maximus will attest to just how much Mike digs these very cool and unique films. His direction and camera work seems very Enzo Castellari influenced, and the several eye zooms would have me believe maybe even somewhat Fulci inspired also. The explosions in the film shout out Margheriti at me. The originality is there too from AN ENRAGED NEW WORLD and the final product is almost a combination of an Italian post-nuke film, George Romero's THE CRAZIES (1973), and INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. It's a mixture that works.

   


The cast gives a strong effort, with everyone looking like they're having a good time. Lead actor George N. Thompson (ATTACK OF THE FLESH DEVOURING SPACE WORMS FROM OUTER SPACE '98, THE FROZEN INFERNO '00) is quite entertaining and off the wall and guns down his share of gas masked menaces. I was quite amused at the tally in the end credits, which read, NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED IN FINAL BATTLE SCENE: 44. Things are made extra special by the guest cameo appearance of Euro-cult pro Gordon Mitchell (THE MINES OF KILIMANJARO '87, BLOOD DELIRIUM '88) in the part of Corman's superior General Murchison (Mike's thumbs up to Mel Ferrer in NIGHTMARE CITY '83). Mitchell warns the Corporal of how serious his mission to Ganymede would be in a flashback sequence. "Do you realize Roger that your space mission to Ganymede is no walk in the park? It'll take you more than twenty-three hundred days to complete your mission. That means more than seven years you'll be out of contact with everyone...especially your loved ones", Mitchell tells him. Gordon shot his own scenes for AN ENRAGED NEW WORLD in Los Angeles and you can see some of his renowned painting in the background.

With a storyline that is certainly nothing complex, AN ENRAGED NEW WORLD is still a well shot, interesting, and diverting film that will especially be enjoyed by anyone who is familiar with the wild world of European cult cinema. Some of Mike Martinez's other work includes, COSMIC SPACE NINJA (1997), ATTACK OF THE FLESH DEVOURING SPACE WORMS FROM OUTER SPACE (1998), ROBIN HOOD (1998), THE END OF A DYNASTY (1998), ESCAPE FROM CHERNOBOURG (1999), THE FROZEN INFERNO (2000), and THE TONY BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (2000). This Vegas born film maker is a talent who is destined for great things and this film is an example why.

3 1/2 BITCH SLAPS

 

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