Nothing here is obviously done for laugh value, but did anyone really take this seriously while filming? It's absolutely ludicrous--the dialog is just a string of one-liners, the facial expressions are all comic takes (mostly snarling), the action sequences are full of gigantic fireballs caused by detonators stuck into cans of fruit cocktail, and the zombies all look like Marilyn Manson wannabes. It's absolutely hilarious, from the corny story to the cheesy special effects. It's also sheer mayhem as the nonstop action escalates into cast-of-thousands stuff, with outrageous stunt work and explosions on every side, all on a tacky Mars surface film set. Yes, Carpenter certainly keeps things moving! He never generates any suspense along the way, but he does keep us laughing.

themes, violence, language

29.Oct.01