VIDEODROME II: The Mad of Max

The anticipated fourth film of the Australian landmark saga Mad Max debuted last May 15 being hailed by critics and the public

All those who grew up in the 80's were marked by the fury of Max Rockantasky, who after seeing his family being murdered took its way into the vendetta and became a lethal vigilante to the rhythm of the four wheels of his Interceptor.

Needless to say, the Mad Max trilogy was, is and will be a test of the power of independent cinema. A testament that proofs that does not need a millionaire budget, but an innovative vision. In 1979 Miller managed to carry out his debut with $ 350, 000. At the end of its run in theaters, the film grossed $ 100 million worldwide. In few words, Miller saw his budget increased 285 times.

While the first movie Mad Max, does not show all the splendor of this post-apocalyptic punk kind is The Road Warrior and Beyond The Thunderdome that shapes the Bible of this style.

Miller created a style of his own, such a violent and brazen cosmogony as a way to make effective and concrete independent cinema.

We have seen the influence of the saga over the years since its release until today, and it is in this 2015 where we find three films cannot deny that have been infected by the madness of Max.

Here are the three trailers and commentaries by its directors about the influence of the trilogy of George Miller.

THE DEMOLISHER (GABRIEL CARRER, 2015)

Revenge has been a recurring motif in the history of cinema, but like sex, it is good displayed on screen can always be effective.

The Demolisher by the great Gabriel Carrer shows that we still can watch terrific revenge stories.

The thirst for payback is not the only link between The Demolisher and Mad Max trilogy, perhaps the biggest link is the love that has Carrer by the saga.

Here are his words:

"The Demolisher is indirectly (maybe) influenced by the original Mad Max (1979), (one of my favourite all time films). There are many parallels, exact subject matter and even subtle cues that are the same. A motorcycle gang, vigilantism, babies under peril, certain gun shots to body parts, wife in jeopardy, the police force, stunts, minimal dialogue and the concept of 'the chase'. I only wish we had more explosions and 10% of Mr. Millers budget of the 1979 film. The Demolisher is somewhat a sliver of a fragment of the inner psycho-drama that inspired me in 1979's Mad Max."

The desert landscapes are also part of The Demolisher

The Demolisher will have its premiere at Fantasia Film Festival to be held in Montreal from July 14 to August 4.

Turbo Kid has been the sensation in recent months since its premiere in Toronto to the great reception given at SXSW earlier this year. The reason? That 80’s atmosphere that many adore (and gore, much gore).

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic 1997 in which THE KID, is obsessed with comics that roams the wastelands looting and stealing to survive until facing a threat that will bring out the hero in him.

Michael Ironside as the villain of the wastelands

Turbo Kid was born first as a short film that aspired to enter on the first delivery ABCs OF DEATH without success. But such was the impact that became a feature by the labor Epic Pictures.

T is for Turbo, the genesis of Turbo Kid

We saw the short film and the trailer, and just we could only think in one thing: MAD MAX! We talked with Francois Simard, one of the three directors, and this was what he said about it:

"Road Warrior has been a huge influence but also the Italian rip-off like The New Barbarians and Bronx Warriors. There's also tons of other 80's movies that inspired us, we really wanted to play with nostalgia. It's really an homage and love letter to the genre and not a spoof."

Wyrmwood is from Australia, the country that gave birth to Max Rockatansky and certainly keeps the spirit of the Road Warrior alive.

Wyrmwood tells how Barry's sister is kidnapped by a mad scientist just before a zombie apocalypse begins. Beyond Barry transforming a vigilante to save his sister is the aesthetic of Wyrmwood the living proof of the invaluable legacy of George Miller's movie.

Wyrmwood in style of the Road Warrior

We talked to the director Kiah Roache-Turner on the influence of Mad Max in Wyrmwood. This aussie film has been baptized by some critics as "Mad Max meets Dawn of the Dead".

"There is a MASSIVE influence of Mad Max on Wyrmwood. My brother and I grew up watching Mad Max 1 & 2 almost once a month for years… The Roadwarrior series is almost like a religion in Australia… without Mad Max there would be no Wyrmwood."

It is peculiar see how three films, in the year of Mad Max’s return, are willing to pay tribute to the work of George Miller.

What other film remember that is influenced by Mad Max?