The Aussies are pretty good at making their own brand of apocalyptic dystopia movies and Turkey Shoot is one of those movies. Brian Trenchard-Smith does a fine job of creating a movie that is equal parts sci-fi, action and horror movie. With plenty of yellow jumpsuits, of course. Steve Railsback and Olivia Hussey star as two people struggling to stay alive at one of those ruthless concentration camps that mirrors ones from fascist regimes in real life.
This one is a re-education camp, yet the leaders have decided to select a small group and hunt for sport. This is very The Most Dangerous Game and predates Battle Royale and The Hunger Games, of course. Sure Turkey Shoot, also known as Escape 2000, is one of those cheesy 1980s violent cult films that people still talk about. And with good reason-it has no qualms about who lives or dies, and it’s subject matter is not too far out of the realm of modern possibility.
Did I think this was a great movie? No, yet I’m glad I still watched it. Too bad the budget restrictions limited the film quite a bit, and yet despite those Turkey Shoot is a good and horrifying movie. We can dream of a Star Trek style future, yet more than likely something as nasty as Turkey Shoot is more plausible to me knowing human nature. I don’t know what color the jumpsuits will be, though.
Leave a Reply