Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Brooklynn There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.
ne Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
mstomaso This horror/psycho thriller/sci fi story pits a hard-nosed, naive and ethical businesswoman against the existing power structure at a very large defense contractor, Chaank Industries. What Hayden Cale (Ely Puget) does not know is that, underlying most of what she knows as Chaank Industries, is a murderous maniac - Jack Dante. Dante is played by the remarkable, under-rated, Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Eyes of Laura Mars, Blue Velvet, Dune, Wild Blue Yonder, Lord of the Rings, etc etc). Dante will do ANYTHING to avoid having his sick little world disturbed... anything. The plot and characters are a string of clichés, but the movie does not take itself very seriously, and what results is a campy, intelligent, self-parody. Direct homages are paid to off-beat directors who frequently use comedy to liven up sci fi and horror stories - There are major ing characters named Sam Raimi, John Carpenter and Scott Ridley. Dourif, the deft pacing of the film, and the cleverly written script make this predictable farce thoroughly enjoyable. Richard Brake makes a very good impression in a role, and lead Puget is charismatic and manages to play her role laudably straight as a counterpoint to Dourif's utterly bizarre behavior. Death Machine was Stephen Norrington's directorial debut. Norrington has done and continues to do a lot of visual effects and robotics work on major releases which require substantial, cutting edge, effects. He also directed the decent but disappointing League of Extraordinary Gentlement and is now working on a re-make of The Crow.
merklekranz Brad Dourif has made some pretty strange movies, but none as grievously annoying as "Death Machine". Do not, I repeat, do not let Dourif's presence entice you into seeing this pile of junk. He is fun to look at wearing an atrocious wig, but that's it. The acting and character development are excruciating, and the dialog is even worse. The entire film comes across as nothing more than a bad 1990s video game. Another annoyance is that the movie gives a feeling of claustrophobia, as if it was shot through a magnifying glass. Actors shouting at each other, plus the unending closeups is headache inducing. ...................... - MERK
PanzerKunst 1.- (And most importantly) This movie needs to be released in its original uncut version of 120 minutues. 2.- This movie should only be seen in its original uncut version of 120 minutes. The UK 111 minute DVD cut is alright but not merely enough, or even issible. Seriously, why not let Ridley say "Shut the *beep* up" to Carpenter at the corporate meeting scene and soooooooooooo on? Total mystery... And don't give me that crap that straight-to-video b-movies like this one shouldn't go on for 2 hours with all the insufferable long junk that's out there I mean, please. 3.- This movie deserves some kind website that makes justice to it's cult following. 4.- This movie is (like one of the reviewers here greately suggested) a total RIOT and therefore should be discovered (and even re-discovered) by all the rightfully lovig of the genre fans. Meaning the ones that can afford to really dig this. 5.- This movie alone should prove once and for all that Stephen Norrington is more than just another special-effects guy turned to film director (even though they say he hates this movie...) "We are talking Geraldo!"
Ky-D A group of people trapped in an isolated location that is inhabited by a vicious and nearly unstoppable creature bent on there demise. The premise is old, but it still holds water, and under Norringtons direction it is both enjoyably kinetic and wholly frustrating.The evil CHAANK corporation (I know, stupid name) is developing unethical and illegal weapons, ranging from advanced robotics to human experimentation. One noble hearted senior executive catches wind of this and wants to put a stop to it. Unfortunately, the royally insane head tech developer (Brad Dourif), who also happens to have a crush on her, learns of her change of heart and isn't about to let that happen. At the same time, a group of rebel soldiers (rebels for whom exactly? Who knows) break into the corporate headquarters to conduct a little merry mischief making, but instead get caught up in Dourif's sour revenge, in the form of a cybernetic killing machine, aptly called the 'war beast'.To Norrington's credit, the film visually well done. Except for an overly long opening section, the film is briskly paced with energy to spare. Lots of camera movement, creative usage of lighting and a smart eye for angles. The editing is for the most part pretty good, but there are a couple of parts that should have been shortened.The script is the real weak point of the film, it just isn't all that good. The film exists in a sci-fi world that is tragically underdeveloped, the characters as 2D as they come, and the plotting lacks any kind of good twist or sense of purpose. The script is awash with horror film references, which work just fine, and cheesy jokes, which don't. The dialogue is much to get excited about, either.As for the 'war beast', it looks nice, but isn't terribly interesting; the big draw for the creature is that it detects pheromones (ie fear) and that is how it is able to track it's prey. It's really nothing more than a big metal bi-ped with lots of teeth and claws that seems to be suffering from a caffeine over-dose. It does cause a couple grisly deaths along the way, but nothing too spectacular.For a low budget effort, it is definitely a worthy accomplishment. Much of Norringtons style is already apparent, just in need of refinement.6/10
