Il giustiziere della strada

Solid Italian Max Mad ripoff has tons of tricked our car and motorcycle desert chases, along with some pretty good Road Warrior copycat costumes, which is fun, even if the action is nothing compared to George Miller's groundbreaking films. Instead of fuel, the survivors of this post apocalyptic hell are in search of water. Though lacking the massive production values of Kevin Coster's "Waterworld" or even Miller's "The Road Warrior," director Giuliano Carnimeo (billed as Jules Harrison) manages to infuse some decent thrills out of his minuscule budget and the corny script from the same writing team who brought you the equally silly "1990: The Bronx Warriors" and "The New Gladiators" (they also wrote the Lucio Fulci horror classics "Manhattan Baby" "The House by the Cemetary"). However, the film is hampered by lousy acting, a dull story, and terrible dubbing (though that does offer camp value). Also, the film takes a major nosedive in terms of pacing once the main character comes across a community of wastelanders. From there, it's a bunch of boring talk about how they can get more water and nothing much of interest. That is until the final's climactic road battle, which although nothing spectacular and plays out more like a demolition derby than a coherent action sequence is still a step above most low budget warriors of the wasteland films of this ilk. Overall, far from a classic, but solidly enjoyable if you enjoy this sort of disreputable film genre.

This flick is SUCH a "Road Warrior" RIP OFF right down to the car crashing thru' a mobile home camper! George Miller probably should have SUED these film makers,but by looking at the budget for this film...he probably wouldn't have gotten much. I'm not going to bash this film TOO much. For what it's worth,it IS kind of fun. But when the bad guy calls his gang "Mother Grabbers",it turns into comedy GOLD! If you want a no brainer low budget action flick...check it out.

Everything you really want from this kind of film (minus nudity possibly). Alien is a hard headed but love-able warrior of the wasteland, who ends up joining a young cyborg in a quest for water to bring back to the boy's peaceful commune. The two are accompanied by Alien's (long time?) frienamie, the beautiful but rugged "Trash" and a lovable retired astronaut. The crew must face a roving car gang, who's leader uses the word "mudder" pretty frequently, as well as doomsday water cultists(?) and the unforgiving desert of the post apocalyptic future. The movie of course takes its cues from (read rips off) Mad Max as well as a few other Sci-Fi classics. There is plenty of possibly unintentional humor, corny action and entertaining 80s schlock. The dub falls out of place a little at times but its watchable all the way through.

In a world of TurboKid and Fury Road, its a little easier to get other people to watch these kind of fun trashy films. Getting them to stick around for most of it is another story. This title has great pacing for a film of its type and would make a great intro in to the genre for that friend who likes some of the Neo-Trash like Turbokid but maybe wouldn't make it through Battletruck or Bronx Warriors.

In a post-apocalyptic future an outpost turn to a stranger to battle a motorcycle gang over a location where water, the most precious substance is located.

Directed by Giuliano Carmineo Exterminators of the Year 3000 (Il Giustiziere della Strada) is no doubt a Mad Max 2 copy-cat, but is was certainly not first or last. Released in 1983 the same year as a flurry of others including Escape from the Bronx, The New Barbarians, Endgame, 2019: After the Fall of New York to name a few. While it suffers from the usual co-Italian production issues of the 80s, clunky dialogue, lapse in logic, choppy editing, dubbing and sound design, what it does have is great practical stunts and car chases accompanied by a catchy notable (of the time) soundtrack from Detto Mariano. Also Alejandro Ulloa's cinematography captures some interesting subterranean, flatlands and rugged terrain locations. Carmineo camera work has a flair and roughness that gives this offering charm along with the low budget constraints that forces him to be dangerously inventive during the action setups.

The cast do there best with Dardano Sacchetti, Elisa Briganti and José Truchado's script. I've never heard any one say "mother-grabbers" before. Robert Iannucci makes for a good lead as Alien. Alicia Moro is notable as Trash. Actor Fernando Bilbao as Crazy Bull does his best Vernon Wells' Wez impression. Venantino Venantini's small role as John offers screen presence, with child actor Luca Venantini as Tommy (and his a little pet hamster) doing a good job.

Overall, in filmmaking they say 'never work with children and animals' - this has both. If you can swallow 1970s and 80's vehicles in a future set in year 3000 you're in for a good time.

My review was written in January 1985 after watching the movie on Thorn EMI video cassette.

"The Exterminators of the Year 3000" is a weak imitation of "The Road Warrior" hit. In unusual fashion, it opened simultaneously in the theatrical (on 42nd St.) and home video market, with meager prospects in either medium.

After a plotless opening reel of old cars chasing around (though set in the year 3000, pic populated with well--preserved models from the 1960s and 1970s), story concerns the search for water in a post-nuclear wasteland. Teamed up are the handsome hero Alien (Robert Jannucci), a petty girl he used to know named Trash (Alicia Moro) and a cute bionic boy Tommy (Luca Ventantini). Tommy's dad was murdered by the big baddie Crazy Bul, who leads a gang of bikers whom he tastefully calls "Mother grabbers" in the poorly-dubbed dialog when not shouting out quaint expressions such as "Let's purloin that water".

When Tommy loses a biomechanical arm, they go to an ex-astronaut Papillon (Alan Collins) to fix it. Papillon has already fixed Alien's souped-up stolen car which is called the Exterminator. Baddies are defeated and pic ends with the star trio frolicking in the first rainfall in years, though the Earth's ozone layer has been destroyed by nuclear bombs making for cloudless skies.

Pic has little to offer beyond okay stunts and action footage. Oddly anticipating "Road Warrior II's" casting of Tina Turner, veteran black actress in Continental productions Beryl Cunningham is cast as a vicious killer in Crazy Bull's gang.