How hot was Nikki Coghill back in the day? Pretty, likeable, with terrific legs and genuine acting ability - she should have become a bigger star than she did. Admittedly there was a period in the late 80s when she seemed to be everywhere in Australia, but pretty much everything she did was crap, including this endearingly appalling science fiction blockbuster.
The making of this film sounds as if it was turbulent and awful, as evocatively described by David Stratton in his book The Avocado Plantation. Everyone points fingers at everyone else, but it seems not too many people did a good job. For starters, Tom Burlinson is perhaps the most miscast action hero in Australian cinematic history. Chubby cheeked, boy next door Tom is meant to be a grizzled, hardened mercenary - Scott Glenn was apparently the actor they originally wanted - and it's simply beyond his capabilities. Every time he holds a gun or says a line you want to laugh. (I think normally Burlinson and Coghill would have made a good team but not there).
Carrie Fisher is in this and she also feels miscast, as Burlinson's nominal superior, who is injured. Dean Stockwell looks as though he fits in, as does Coghill and Tim Robertson as a cop. But Jim Holt over acts as another copper and the supporting actors who play Burlinson's fellow refugees are ridiculous.
There is a decent enough story at the core of this, underneath all the mess, but it is heavily buried with silly scenes, bad acting and a ridiculous finale. Poor Coghill.
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