In the early ’80s, the Italian film industry was having a bit of an identity crisis. Although a better way to describe their issue was a lack of genre worthy of hundreds of productions. Hundreds of sword and scandal epics, the spaghetti Westerns and gory horror flicks had spun out of Rome’s massive film industry over the past decades. Producers were unsure what would cause international buyers to snag films with international casts and dubbed dialogue. Warriors of the wasteland seemed to be fertile ground with the success of Mad Max and The Road Warrior. Exterminators of the Year 3000 seemed perfect to attract the audience that was eager for more tales of a dystopian future.
The Earth has been ravaged after a massive nuclear war. Plant life and safe water resources are dwindling. Those trapped in a refuge of humanity need a bit of salvation. They send out a search party with a tanker truck in hopes of having enough precious water to keep them going. THey even locate a secret spring that could mean survival of society. However the truck gets ambushed by those evil outlaws that live amongst the radioactive ruins. Only a small child survives and barely befriends an outlawed outlaw named Alien (Young Doctors In Love‘s Robert Iannucci). He’ll help for a price. But can Alien really be trusted with such an enormous mission?
Exterminators of the Year 3000 cranks up the high octane with the action covering up the Mad Max inspired script. The movie doesn’t get bogged down with too much plot. It’s all about men in a nightmarish environment wanting that precious water. This movie seems to have predicted the current drought condition in California. Sadly the post-apocalyptic Italian movies wouldn’t have the same cultural impact as their previous genre overrides. People seem to want their ruins of humanity with a classical touch. Still Exterminators is fun to view while waiting for Mad Max Fury Road to arrive at the cineplex.
The video is 1.85:1 anamorphic. The 1080p transfer brings out the hopeless nature of the wasteland. The audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. All the dialogue was dubbed in post-production so mouths might seem a little off.
Audio Commentary features Robert Iannucci recounting his time as Faux Max.
Boogie Down with the Alien (17:42) allows Iannucci to discuss his big European adventure in the post-apocalyptic nightmare.
Theatrical Trailer and TV spots sell us on the wrecked wreckage.
Exterminators of the Year 3000 gives us a water based version of The Road Warrior that doesn’t feel watered down.
Scream Factory presents Exterminators of the Year 3000. Directed by: Giuliano Carnimeo. Starring: Robert Iannucci, Alicia Moro, Luciano Pigozzi and Eduardo Fajardo. Rated: R. Running Time: 103 minutes. Released: March 3, 2015.
