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Here is Hardware, an oft-panned b-sci-fi horror flick that feels slightly older than it is. It’s about a scavenged industrial Wall-E gouging people’s eyes out and stuff. Richard Stanley is at the helm. Unfortunately, he didn’t do much more beyond this. Writing may not be his strength, and maybe he lacks a bit of self-awareness, but he’s an absolute visionary with a fun and unique style. This is a b-movie at face value, but it has abnormally artistic camera work and cinematography coupled with a truly nihilistic philosophy.
I think the two leads are a little too pretty for the setting, despite often being made up to look like chimney sweeps having a bad day. The rest of the characters seem to get considerable flak, but I love them (even though they’re mainly just slimy robo-fodder waiting to be gloriously dispatched). The oddball cast just makes me want to explore the film’s eccentric universe even more. Within such an attractively ramshackle locale, being confined to an apartment for most of the movie may be a turnoff for many, but the heavily detailed scenery is still milked to the fullest. The rust bucket post-apocalyptic sets are accentuated by some of the most beautiful darkly lit cinematography I’ve ever seen.
Based on other commonly held opinions of this, I’m not going to earnestly recommend it to everyone or promise its quality. Try not to expect a seriously effective horror film or anything. Just have fun with it if the style suits you. And how f*ckin awesome is the soundtrack? If you’re answer is ‘not at all:’ avoid. Though, if anyone else finds joy in Hardware after reading this, it’ll warm my heart more than a radioactive desert.
This movie is: tasteless, nihilistic, dirty, sweaty, campy, stupid, bizarre, visionary, and gorgeous. I usually like to make stupid comments and whatnot, and this should logically be an easier target than Stephen Hawking in a dodgeball game, but… it’s so hard for me to contain my enthusiasm! Guys! This movie is so f*cking awesome! Screw my own criticisms; 5 popcorns…
Samuel L. Jackson came prepared for the raptors this time.
Mayonnaise is the real villain.
Hardware (1990)
My first review doesn’t do this movie justice, so here is a re-review.
My first review doesn’t do this movie justice, so here is a re-review.
Here is Hardware, an oft-panned b-sci-fi horror flick that feels slightly older than it is. It’s about a scavenged industrial Wall-E gouging people’s eyes out and stuff. Richard Stanley is at the helm. Unfortunately, he didn’t do much more beyond this. Writing may not be his strength, and maybe he lacks a bit of self-awareness, but he’s an absolute visionary with a fun and unique style. This is a b-movie at face value, but it has abnormally artistic camera work and cinematography coupled with a truly nihilistic philosophy.
I think the two leads are a little too pretty for the setting, despite often being made up to look like chimney sweeps having a bad day. The rest of the characters seem to get considerable flak, but I love them (even though they’re mainly just slimy robo-fodder waiting to be gloriously dispatched). The oddball cast just makes me want to explore the film’s eccentric universe even more. Within such an attractively ramshackle locale, being confined to an apartment for most of the movie may be a turnoff for many, but the heavily detailed scenery is still milked to the fullest. The rust bucket post-apocalyptic sets are accentuated by some of the most beautiful darkly lit cinematography I’ve ever seen.
Based on other commonly held opinions of this, I’m not going to earnestly recommend it to everyone or promise its quality. Try not to expect a seriously effective horror film or anything. Just have fun with it if the style suits you. And how f*ckin awesome is the soundtrack? If you’re answer is ‘not at all:’ avoid. Though, if anyone else finds joy in Hardware after reading this, it’ll warm my heart more than a radioactive desert.
This movie is: tasteless, nihilistic, dirty, sweaty, campy, stupid, bizarre, visionary, and gorgeous. I usually like to make stupid comments and whatnot, and this should logically be an easier target than Stephen Hawking in a dodgeball game, but… it’s so hard for me to contain my enthusiasm! Guys! This movie is so f*cking awesome! Screw my own criticisms; 5 popcorns…
Samuel L. Jackson came prepared for the raptors this time.
Mayonnaise is the real villain.