Starring
Steve Barkett, Lynne Margulies, Sid Haig, Christopher Barkett, Alfie
Martin, Jim Danforth, Forrest J. Ackerman, Linda Stiegler. Directed
by Steve Barkett. (1982/96 min).
Hello,
Newman...
He's
the hero of The Aftermath and looks a lot like the guy I
recently hired to fix my water heater (complete with overalls). Okay,
so he's not exactly Max Rockatansky, but since star Steve Barkett
also wrote, produced and directed the thing, he can do whatever the
hell he wants...which includes casting his equally untalented kids in
supporting roles.
Newman's
an astronaut who crash-lands back on Earth, only to discover it's
been ravaged by nuclear war, evidenced by a few matte paintings and
some abandoned apartment buildings (as well as one pristine mansion
where he and a crew member hold up, presumably because Barkett knew
someone who let him shoot there). When not fighting
paper-mache-masked mutants, Newman squares-off against gangs of
bell-bottomed bullies led by Cutter (Sid Haig, the one decent actor
in the cast).
 |
| "Sorry, kid...no Santa this year." |
With
his receding hairline, porn star mustache, blank expression and
monotone delivery, Barkett makes a hilarious action hero as he
engages in all sorts of badassery...blasting bad guys, bedding down
babes and providing ominous voice-over narration (a good thing, since
we can't really hear any of the actual dialogue very well). Barkett's tenacity,
narcissism and misguided assessment of his own talents are the primary
reason The Aftermath is such a hoot.
 |
| "It's a war-ravaged wasteland out there, my friend, so I took the liberty of closing the drapes." |
One
aspect of the film is indisputably great, though. Accompanying the laughable
dialogue, ludicrous special effects, low-wattage action and amateur
performances is a truly wonderful score by John Morgan. Strongly
reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann's classic soundtracks (no accident,
either), it seems to belong in another movie entirely, but stands
alone as a great piece of music (and probably why the isolated score
is one of the disc's bonus features).
While
someone should've informed him that real action heroes don't wear
fishing hats, Steve Barkett is a man to be admired, or at-least
appreciated. Much like Florence Foster Jenkins, he may be completely
tone-deaf, but his utter dedication and sincerity as a grassroots
auteur gives The Aftermath a level of charm missing from most
would-be apocalyptic epics.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
ORIGINAL
LASERDISC FEATURETTES - Various short features, one after the other.
Some interesting stuff, but you can't skip around.
ISOLATED
MUSIC SCORE - This is great stuff.
AUDIO
COMMENTARY
SHORT:
"Night Caller" - A strange little 1973 film, featuring
Barkett.
"EMPIRE
OF THE DARK" - An excerpt from Barkett's other directorial
effort
TRAILER
DVD
COPY
KITTY CONSENSUS:
A GOOFY GOOD TIME
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