Def-Con 4 (1985) September 15, 2020

[DaveyJoe]

How is this movie?

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by DaveyJoe

How is this movie?

Enjoyable trash.

[Blu2u]

I would say the cover art is better than the film. As far as post-apocalyptic goes, this one is boring. Has a few good moments, but never really comes together.

[Noremac Mij]

Originally Posted by DaveyJoe

How is this movie?

No bueno.

[The Great Owl]

Three astronauts watch helplessly as a nuclear war breaks out below on Earth and devastates all of the major cities. When their missile-armed space station ultimately crash lands, one of them is killed instantly by radiation-affected mutants, and another is left unconscious. The remaining survivor, Howe, played by Tim Choate (Ghost Story), is soon taken prisoner by a band of gun-toting punks led by a military-obsessed teenager, played by Kevin King (Iron Eagle). After forming an unlikely alliance with a rogue girl, played by Lenore Zann (Happy Birthday to Me), and a survivalist, played by Maury Chaykin (My Cousin Vinny), our protagonist must free himself and his friends from the ragtag group of villains before his ship's last remaining missile detonates.

The 1985 Canadian production, DefCon 4, directed by Paul Donovan, is exceedingly ridiculous, even by B movie standards. As far as post-apocalyptic fare from the 1980s goes, however, it serves the purpose for Saturday afternoon viewing for those willing to leave logic by the door. I have a nostalgic soft spot for relics from the era of VHS rental stores, even if this particular one never delivers on its remarkable, yet misleading poster art.

To this film's credit, it does offer a grim vision of a world in a state of total anarchy, even if it never disturbs on a visceral level. Never underestimate the absurdity of armed rednecks who believe that they can maintain some sort of control over the uncontrollable. A genuinely interesting music score by Christopher Young (Hellraiser) also lends some seriousness to the proceedings.

At the least, the movie poster still rocks my face.

This Scorpion Releasing Blu-ray delivers a good-looking filmic presentation that I am inclined to believe is the best that the source material has to offer. An interview with Christopher Young is well worth watching, mostly because of his discussions of his scores from other films.

[Savage_Blu]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[Show spoiler]

Three astronauts watch helplessly as a nuclear war breaks out below on Earth and devastates all of the major cities. When their missile-armed space station ultimately crash lands, one of them is killed instantly by radiation-affected mutants, and another is left unconscious. The remaining survivor, Howe, played by Tim Choate (Ghost Story), is soon taken prisoner by a band of gun-toting punks led by a military-obsessed teenager, played by Kevin King (Iron Eagle). After forming an unlikely alliance with a rogue girl, played by Lenore Zann (Happy Birthday to Me), and a survivalist, played by Maury Chaykin (My Cousin Vinny), our protagonist must free himself and his friends from the ragtag group of villains before his ship's last remaining missile detonates.

The 1985 Canadian production, DefCon 4, directed by Paul Donovan, is exceedingly ridiculous, even by B movie standards. As far as post-apocalyptic fare from the 1980s goes, however, it serves the purpose for Saturday afternoon viewing for those willing to leave logic by the door. I have a nostalgic soft spot for relics from the era of VHS rental stores, even if this particular one never delivers on its remarkable, yet misleading poster art.

To this film's credit, it does offer a grim vision of a world in a state of total anarchy, even if it never disturbs on a visceral level. Never underestimate the absurdity of armed rednecks who believe that they can maintain some sort of control over the uncontrollable. A genuinely interesting music score by Christopher Young (Hellraiser) also lends some seriousness to the proceedings.

At the least, the movie poster still rocks my face.

This Scorpion Releasing Blu-ray delivers a good-looking filmic presentation that I am inclined to believe is the best that the source material has to offer. An interview with Christopher Young is well worth watching, mostly because of his discussions of his scores from other films.

I'll second your summation here.
This was an immediate VHS rental once I saw that box art lol. Probably 50% of what I rented as a kid was solely based on the artwork.
The only imagery I could recall of this film were the first 15 minutes. Right up to the point where the astronaut is drug out of the spaceship, through the sand, and his bloody hand rolls onto the floor.
While a fan of B grade post apocalyptic films, I can surely say this one will scratch the itch. However, there are better. I'd put this smack in the middle of the B Movie Post Apocalyptic genre.

Sure wish this came with a mini poster... I would put that on my wall!