Aftershock

You'd think with actors like Christopher Mitchum, Richard Lynch, and Michael Berryman in the film the director would actually use them. I should know better! It's a crappy B-movie, duh!

This movie, as all B-movies, has a convoluted plot, but this one has a twist. (Wait they all do...) It's a tragic post-apocalyptic story with an alien/dumb-blonde that comes to learn how our peaceful planet works the way it does. (It's post-apocalyptic, it's not peaceful!)

Along the way there's a hint of buddy movie with Jay Roberts Jr. and Chuck Jeffreys as Willie and Danny. Jeffreys I think is going for Eddie Murphy but comes up way short.

Then there's some bounty hunter who has a difficulties with his job. "Maybe I'm getting soft," he says. (He carries a six-shooter that shoots 8 bullets. Hmmm...)

Throw in Michael Berryman as Queen, the cross-dressing mutant, and Matthias Hues as his Conan-esque sidekick and you've made for one messed up movie.

Superb! A tough viewing even for those that enjoy B-movies. That's what makes them so great!

My review was written in March 1990 after watching the film on Paramount/Prism video cassette.

"Aftershock" takes a different look at the "Mad Max" genre in the form of alien interference after mankind suffers a nuclear holocaust. It's an okay direct-to-video picture.

Elizabeth Kaitan plays the beautiful alien who pops up on Earth and is immediately hunted down by the militaristic forces ruling following WW III. She's befriended by rebels Jay Roberts Junior and Christopher Mitchum, and manages to keep just one step ahead of pursuing baddies John Saxon and Richard Lynch.

She's here, oddly enough, to get advice from humanity on maintaining the peace based on pre-nuclear war monitoring of Earth activities. Instead, she arrives too late for both cultures' sake.

It's an interesting departure for Kaitan, who's usually merely decorative. Roberts makes a handsome hero.

Film gets overly cornball in the final reel, especially when Mitchum whips out a copy of the Constitution of the U. S., presented as a guideline to save our society and that of the aliens. America may be offering some inspiration in this era of emerging democracies, but to set the standard for the rest of the universe is a bit much, even for sci-fi fans.

This is a B movie jem. If you love B movies this one is a must see.

Pretty awful post-apocalyptic story of a beautiful blond alien visiting earth during World War III. She encounters a variety of good and bad humans, most of which are played by character actors including John Saxon ("Enter the Dragon" "A Nightmare on Elm Street"), Russ Tamblyn ("West Side Story" "The Haunting" "Twin Peaks"), Christopher Mitchum (son of Robert Mitchum), Richard Lynch ("The Seven-Ups" "The Sword and the Sorcerer" "God Told Me To"), and a personal favorite, the dome headed Michael Berryman ("The Hills Have Eyes" "Weird Science" "The Devil's Rejects") playing, what else, a creepy dude. Also look fast for another personal favorite, Al Leong ("Die Hard" "Big Trouble in Little China" "Lethal Weapon"), who's seen briefly as a fighter. The story is boring and never seems to go much of anywhere and there are no characters of interest, so only watch this one if you're a fan of any of the character actors involved.

This is a ridiculous movie. Thankfully, it doesn't take itself too seriously -- or, if it does, it does it so absurdly that it's impossible to tell the difference. Most of the action is just silly, the plot is convoluted, the characters preposterous... what is there to like about this movie?

Well... intentionally or not, it made me smile a lot. I liked the gorgeous Elizabeth Kaitan, regardless of how bland her character was. I liked the always-rowdy Matthias Hues, even though his character's death was shockingly cheap. I liked John Saxon, who is his usual menacing self here. And I really liked laughing at all the silliness and B-movie mistakes. Throw in some Richard Lynch and Michael Berryman and you're bound to have a few good moments along the way.

Take this for what it is; sit back, relax, and laugh at/with it. You won't learn much, but if you like post-apoc B-movies, you should enjoy this one.