10 Blockbuster Rip-Off Films That Are Actually Worth Watching
4. Spacehunter: Adventures In The Forbidden Zone (1983)
Canadas first 3D sci-fi epic, Spacehunter is another Star Wars/Mad Max copy, but like the Italian rip-offs it resembles, its diverting enough on its own terms. Wolf (Peter Strauss), who in no way resembles Han Solo, is cruising through the galaxy when he learns of the reward offered for the safe return of three women whove crashed on Terra 11, a barren wasteland ruled by pasty-faced mutant Overdog (Michael Ironside). Because he has alimony payments, rent arrears and 165 parking tickets, Wolf accepts and immediately runs into Washington (Ernie Hudson), who in no way resembles Lando Calrissian, and Niki (Molly Ringwald), who mightve been intended as a Princess Leia-type but comes across more like Chewbacca every time she opens her mouth, you want to cover your ears. In plot terms, thats all she wrote. Until their climactic encounter with Overdog, our heroes fight off Terra 11s residents, including Amazon women, mutant children with Molotov cocktails, stunt performers in fat suits etc. Spacehunter may not have Return of the Jedis snap, but theres no Ewoks, either.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'