The Lawless Land

My review was written in January 1989 after watching the film on MGM/UA video cassette.

Minor sci-fi effort "The Lawless Land" serves to introduce some new talent. Pic played briefly theatrically last year ahead of home video release.

Helmer Jon Hess, who went on to shoot Carolco's "Watchers" for Universal release, shows technical know-how in this "Mad Max" genre tale set in "The Southern continent after the collapse (lensed in Chile). Nick Corri portrays Falco, who runs afoul of the chairman (Walter Kliche), as industrial magnate, when he elopes with his pretty daughter (Amanda Peterson).

In road movie fashion, much of the film is taken up by the chairman's goons, led by Road Kill (played by laconic Leon), chasing after the lovers, Odd casting has a tramp-styled beauty hitchhiking and getting mixed up in the violence, played by Peterson look alike Ann-Marie Peterson, evidently the actress' sister.

Corri exudes an engaging personality in the undemanding lead role, and went on to a subsequent toplined part in "Slaves of New York". Rest of the cast is fine, with some scene-stealing by Xander Berkeley as a folksy guy who always seems to turn up when the good guys need an assist.

Tech credits are acceptable, with an excellent out-theme ballad, "We Found Our Way", sung by Gary Stockdale.