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The box office may currently belong to the fast cars of Fast & Furious 6—but before Vin Diesel and Paul Walker could drive, the road belonged to Mel Gibson’s “Mad” Max Rockatansky.
In 1979’s Mad Max, a 23-year-old Gibson climbed behind the wheel of a souped-up cop car and steered himself straight to stardom. In a mysteriously post-apocalyptic, slightly-futuristic world, Gibson’s Max is a member of the MFP, a group of tough, leather-clad patrolmen who are trying to keep the peace from their bombed out Halls of Justice. But when Max takes down a crazed cop killer who calls himself the Nightrider (Vince Gil), he attracts the attention of a ruthless motorcycle gang led by the deranged Toecutter (Hugh Keays-Byrne).
After the bikers exact their revenge on Max’s partner, Goose (Steve Bisley), Max is ready to call it quits—but the Toecutter and his crazed followers aren’t done with him yet.
Mad Max is the original road warrior thriller—a gritty adventure filled with fast cars and creepy characters, set against a kind of post-apocalyptic Wild West backdrop. From the lengthy high-speed chase that kicks off this low-budget Aussie adventure, you’ll know that you’re in for something different: something harsh and extreme…something both fast and furious, even. It may sometimes have a slightly hokey, over-the-top ‘70s feel to it, but the fast pace and menacing suspense make it irresistibly gripping.
As soon as you meet Max’s wild and crazy partner, his devoted wife (played by Joanne Samuel), and his adorable son, you’ll suspect that something horrible is in store for poor, likable Max. Writer/director George Miller then begins toying with his audience using hints and false starts, dragging out the action and suspense in the most intriguing ways. And he does so using a pretty horrifying band of villains.
These bikers aren’t the typical bad guys. Sure, they’re ruthless and vengeful—as any good villain should be—but they’re also uncomfortably unhinged. The wild-eyed Toecutter destroys and devastates just for the fun of it—and his deranged band of misfits playfully join in. So it’s not really a matter of if they’ll strike back at Max and his friends and family—but of when it’ll happen…and how horrifying the results will be.
Still, in the midst of the near-futuristic mayhem, Gibson stands out as a strong and likable hero. It’s no wonder that the Mad Max movies started this charming star’s climb to Hollywood A-list status. And no matter what you think of him now, you’ll be drawn to his heroic young Max.
Mad Max definitely handles its budgetary obstacles well. Despite the occasional moments of low-budget ‘70s cheese, it’s a thrilling, eye-catching film—and a worthy start to an iconic series. If you’ve somehow skipped over the first film in the franchise (as I had), it’s definitely worth checking out.
Blu-ray Review:
Now available as a part of a three-disc, three-movie box set (which also includes The Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome), the Mad Max Blu-ray is admittedly pretty light on features. In addition to a commentary track, it includes just one making-of feature, Mad Max: The Film Phenomenon, a half-hour look back at the film, its creation, and its impact. If you’re a die-hard fan of the film, though, you’ll appreciate the fact that it also includes both the original Australian vocal track and the derided dubbed version.
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