Crime Zone

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."

Distant future. A dystopian society with elements of a rigid caste system, in a world after a nuclear war. The city where the burning blonde Helen and the melancholy Bone live. A place in which they, on the one hand, want to succeed, and on the other hand, from which they want to escape. One day they get such a chance when someone named Jason gets in touch and offers them to steal the disk in exchange for him taking them outside the oppressive location. The announced mission does not bode well, but there probably won't be another chance. The heroes get to work, but, as sometimes happens, one thread pulls behind it a whole series of other events and, being nobody yesterday, the heroes turn into involuntary "runners in the shadows".

Most of this picture consists of obvious and not so obvious oppositions. The location is called the "City of the Sun", but it is always night here and it rains regularly. Local law enforcement agencies, in addition to their uniforms, distinguished by a stylish gothic make-up, adhere to strict discipline and formalities, but their behavior and regulations are not much different from the morals of frostbitten street mercenaries. Here, regulated prostitution coexists with restrictions on personal freedoms and hopeless devastation coexists with thriving sectors. The killing of unwanted elements has been turned into an element of entertainment broadcasts. Otherwise, there is a typical "high tech, low life" set and attention to small details, traditional for the cyberpunk genre, somewhat diluted with elements of neo-noir.

This film does not pretend to be any highly artistic or pompous messages, the plot is straightforward and individual scenes could use more elaboration, at the same time, the overall atmosphere is quite at the level, so in particular for the same one-time viewing in the evening or two.

I recently watched Crime Zone (1988) on Tubi. The story takes place in an apocalyptic future where crime has been eradicated and society is ruled by a dictatorship. When someone attempts to steal top-secret information, they cross paths with a rebellious Bonnie & Clyde-style couple who are more than ready to stir up chaos-and become the perfect distraction. Together, they launch a coordinated crime spree.

Directed by Luis Llosa (Anaconda), the film stars David Carradine (Death Race 2000), Sherilyn Fenn (Wild at Heart), Don Manor, and Peter Nelson (Die Hard 2).

This is one of those movies with cheap sets, props, and costumes-but somehow it still manages to pull you into its universe. It has a "poor man's Cherry 2000" vibe in many ways. While the plot includes a few twists and turns, they don't land as effectively as intended. The shootouts are average, and the ending is as cliché as they come. The women are striking, but the acting across the board is mediocre at best.

In conclusion, Crime Zone is a below-average post-apocalyptic film that's ultimately not worth your time. I'd score it a 4/10 and recommend skipping it.

"Crime Zone" takes place in a police state of the future, known as "Soleil" (the French word for sun). Low-tier citizens "Bone" (Peter Nelson, "The Last Starfighter"), who's just lost his job, and Helen (ever-ravishing Sherilyn Fenn of 'Twin Peaks' fame), are a couple yearning for escape, hoping to make it to a promised land called "Frodan". Then an authority figure named Jason (David Carradine, "Kill Bill") makes a proposal to them to commit various crimes, all of them done for an unexpected reason.

A hair better than most low-budget movies about Dystopian futures, "Crime Zone" manages to be, at the least, fairly interesting, and well visualized. (The name "Soleil" is amusingly ironic since most scenes there are shot at night.). The acting is variable, but Nelson is earnest enough, and Carradine does do more here than just phone it in. (He also takes an associate producer credit.). Fenn is the standout in that regard; Michael Shaner ("Lethal Weapon") overdoes it as Bones' former friend, a lifelong lowest-tier individual and self-proclaimed "****up." The action scenes are capably handled, the violence plentiful without being overly gory, and the soundtrack (composed by Rick Conrad) is pretty catchy.

Filmed on location in Peru, the homeland of producer / director Luis Llosa, who went on to do Hollywood movies such as "Sniper", "The Specialist", and "Anaconda".

Seven out of 10.

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.