The Road Warrior Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1981

Before The Road Warrior there was Mad Max, where we were introduced to a young Max Rockatansky, played with aplomb by then unknown Mel Gibson. This low budget Australian film managed to become an underground sensation both in its home country as well as America and the rest of the world. Today nearly any movie lover is intimately familiar with the Mad Max trilogy, but whereas the original movie was certainly deserving of its praise, it is The Road Warrior that truly put the series on the map.

The Road Warrior is the continuation of the Max saga, a former cop who became a soulless anti-hero after the death of his family and partner. Having obtained his revenge against his former nemesis, Max is now a drifter that drives the post-apocalyptic wastelands of Australia in search of the most valuable of treasures: fuel.

Stumbling across a fuel depot, he discovers the current residents are under the tyranny of a psychopathic gang (is there ever any other type after the apocalypse?) that is led by a brute called The Humungus. The gang demands that these survivors leave the oil refinery alive, lest they remain and be slaughtered. It's not Max's battle to be certain, but eventually this world-weary warrior offers to transport the oil to safety in an oil tanker for the price of as much gasoline as he can carry. The resulting road battles and confrontations as the gang pursues Max are some of the best action scenes ever put to film.

Mad Max, as good a movie as it was, can almost be considered little more than the setup for this masterpiece. From start to finish, The Road Warrior is an adrenaline-pumping action extravaganza that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The stunt work was impressive in the original movie, but in this sequel the stunts are enough to make most viewers drop their jaw in awe. I kid you not; the scenes are hot. They're not just incredible; they're also indelible.

Okay, enough sad attempts at rhyming… I'm a reviewer, not a poet!

Mel Gibson was great in his debut role as Mad Max, but in The Road Warrior he's lightning. Although I think Gibson is a terribly gifted actor that can still outperform most actors to this day, he was at his best in the 80's when he played tragic heroes such as Mad Max or Martin Riggs (Lethal Weapon).

Max's thirst for revenge having been quenched in the previous film, he's now an empty shell that cares little for humanity or the world. He doesn't offer to help the survivors in the depot out of selflessness – were it not for the chance at unlimited gasoline he would have likely left them to be slaughtered. Yet even within this shattered man a glimpse of the old, honorable cop remains. Depicting such a role with the complexity it requires isn't for the faint of heart, but Gibson makes it look easy.

So we know that Gibson handled his role like a master – how does the rest of the group do in this film? Like the first movie the actors are primarily unknown Australian actors, but just as with the original they all put forth convincing and mesmerizing performances.

This early 80's classic easily surpasses the very good original as well as the lukewarm third entry in this series, Beyond Thunderdome. In fact the road battles and stunt work throughout this film are to this day still some of the best ever filmed… and arguably THE best.

If action-packed, post-nuclear films appeal to you, The Road Warrior is a flawless masterpiece that isn't to be missed.

Movie rating: 10 stars

If you enjoyed The Road Warrior you may also find the following films to be of interest:

Enjoy the Road Warrior experience in the comfort of your own home with these related products!

 DVD Soundtrack Poster
Mad Max II - Road Warrior
Mad Max II - Road Warrior
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Other Resources:


Movie Sitemap
Mad Max

Road Warrior

Man on Fire

Car Chase

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