Film Review: Neon City (1991)

Neon City (1991)
Director: Monte Markham
Writers: Jeff Begun, Ann Lewis Hamilton (as Buck Finch), Monte Markham

'It's a Mad Max rip-off!'
'No, it's an homage to classic westerns like Stagecoach!'
'Mad Max!'
'Stagecoach!'
'It's two great genres in one - It's Neon City!'

In the not too distant future, 2053 to be precise, the earth has been devastated by a man made ecological disaster. Those without prestige and money live in the outlands, the lawless impoverished areas outside the cities. The lucky ones with money live in big cities like Neon City.

Harry Stark (Michael Ironside), bad ass bounty hunter who roams the outlands instead of the comparative luxury of cities, is roped into taking the next bus to Neon City. His plan is to turn over wanted criminal Reno (Vanity) upon arrival. The Man wants Stark to protect naive rich girl Twink (Juliet Landau ED WOOD) on the journey to the big city. Along for the ride are a band of passengers including a stand up comic with more than jokes in his luggage (Richard Sanders of WKRP fame), Stark's ex-wife (Valerie Wildman), Bulk (Lyle Alzado DESTROYER) the driver, an older man who keeps to himself (Arsenio 'Sonny' Trinidad) and a psychotic serial killer posing as a doctor (Nick Klar). The path is fraught with danger, radiation storms, mutant raiders and the secrets the passengers keep.

 

NEON CITY is a Canadian post apocalypse film heavily indebted to MAD MAX 2 and the sub-genre that sprung up around its success and John Ford's classic western STAGECOACH. We have the motorcycle riding raiders attacking the passenger bus as it makes its way across the desolate land (MAD MAX) and the passenger conflicts arising from the pressure of being in a small space while man and nature tries to kill them (STAGECOACH). It isn't nearly as good as either. However, there is a certain charm to the film that raises it above the usual cheap knock-off and makes for an entertaining watch. Neither stars Ironside or Vanity are regaling us with Shakespeare but both are fun to watch bad assess with just enough character backstory to keep the viewer engrossed between action set pieces. Which is a plus considering most of the action scenes are middling.

NEON CITY isn't bad enough to be a so bad it's good film. It isn't good enough to be a good film either. Instead it haunts that area of our mind that enjoys the guilty pleasure. We see the faults but can't help to look past them to find the fun and magic in watching a genre film.

The director, also a prolific character actor, plays the role of Captain Raymond.

Filmed in Utah.

**1/2 out of ****