Crime Zone

This video was (literally) collecting dust on the shelf of the store where I work. I dusted it off & took it home to watch, hoping it might be either a) a cheesy and unintentionally hilarious grade z flick or maybe b)an undiscovered sci-fi classic. It certainly wasn't a) and I'm beginning to suspect it might be quite close to being b). Peter Nelson (v.good, and broodingly handsome) and Sherilyn Fenn (also great) had real chemistry as the lovers in Soliel, the repressive 1984-style society, and the action sequences were genuinely thrilling. Pity about the hammy support by Michael Shaner, but it doesn't undermine the rest of the movie. If you like Blade Runner and 1984, give this film a chance.

Before Liosa branched out with bigger films, this little, unremarkable and forgettable sci fi action pic, but with really good sets, generates moderate interest, helped by it's eye catching VHS cover. Hot exotic dancer/ex whore, Fenn, donning short white hair, and new lover, young hunky unemployed Bone, give decent sexy performances, as the ruled civilians in the dystopian crime zone. Itching to get free, they are thrown an opportunity, they can't resist by a shady stranger, cigarette smoking Carradine, who really doesn't have to act, and doesn't appear until the 32 minute mark of the film. He's in a few scenes, as the film progresses, and does add color to a somewhat, other unoriginal and thin premise, with some larger than life supports. Carradine's character is very intriguing, multi layered, but Fenn and hunk carry it. There's a fresh, sexy presence she carries in film, and she is really good. Unremarkable B great film isn't. C'mon' up your game, Lioza.

An agreeably stark and rough post-apocalyptic little Sci-fi b-grade film by Roger Corman's Concorde productions, which depicts a neon-glazed future where citizens are put into categories as they carry out daily routines, are run by strict rules (like state-sanctioned sexual activities), cameras watch their every move, the rich extend their existence in the Garden of hibernation and they're governed by a power-hungry state where a mighty police force keeps order. This follows two young love-birds going against the trend, by taking up an offer by a stranger to steal some important computer chip where in doing be free of the strangling reign of the dead-end zone. But things don't go to plan, where they are caught up in a web of murder, mystery and intrigue. So now they are on the run. This is what you can call an grimly futuristic twist to Bonnie and Clyde in a post-world war three society. Quite formulaic, but it does offer up an ambitious surprise or two with its sharply written, if elaborate screenplay. Director Luis Llosa remarkably keeps a fast tempo, delivering impulsively edgy action sequences, efficiently workable special effects and getting atmospheric vigour out of the smoky low-rent sets. They do look dingy, but it brings an authenticity about its war-torn decay. An arrestingly foreboding synthesizer score only adds to the steamy humidity. The performances are quite impressive. Peter Nelson is ably good with a very delectable Sherilyn Fenn as the young on-the-run couple Bone and Helen who are dreaming of a better life and to get that the rules are to be broken. Because they wouldn't kiss ass. The collectedly smooth David Carradine (who also was one of the associate producers) goes about his business in a very cunning manner. Then there's durable support by Michael Shaner and Orlando Sacha. By-the-way kick-ass cover artwork too.

"No way. We're going out in style."

The first twenty minutes of Crime Zone is pretty good with a ( Ridley Scott Blade Runner) feel to it. The total darkness , lighting and mood, of the movie then took me down. (Peter Nelson) as Bone certainly looked the part of the leading man, but I was distracted by his soft and high pitched voice. (Sherilyn Fenn) played the nasty girl Helen and instead of making her look foxy by accentuating her petite figure they put an Ellen DeGeneres hair cut on her and parted it on the side like a boy. This is Sherilyn Fenn, Just let her where her natural hair for heavens sake. Everybody else besides (Carradine) were not great to be charitable. There is a number of twists and turns with no reason given to like or root for any of the characters. I watched the whole thing and was glad when it was finally "The End".

This was a difficult movie for me to rate. First of all, I usually enjoy films with Sherilynn Fenn because she adds a unique quality to movies with her beauty and youthful charm. Throw in David Carradine and any movie would probably be somewhat successful. Additionally, I really enjoy films of an apocalyptic science-fiction nature. Unfortunately, things just didn't seem to click for me in this one. While Sherilynn Fenn (as "Helen") certainly did her job well enough I don't think David Carradine ("Jason") was used as extensively as he should have been. Additionally, Peter Nelson ("Bone") seemed more like a supporting actor than someone in the lead male role. Along with that I didn't care for the performance of Michael Shaner ("Creon") at all. Likewise, the sets were extremely cheap looking and the action was kind of boring. Granted this was a Roger Cormen film and low-budget productions are his specialty. But it didn't seem to work in this particular case. That said, I rate the film as slightly below average.