Space Rage

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Space Rage: Breakout on Prison Planet
Poster for the film's original version
Directed byConrad E. Palmisano
Screenplay byJim Lenahan
Story byMorton Reed
Produced byMorton Reed
Starring
Cinematography
Edited by
Music by
Production
companies
  • Vestron Entertainment
  • Morton Reed Productions[2]
Distributed byVestron Pictures
Release date
  • November 21, 1986 (1986-11-21)[1]
(Space Rage version)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.2–3.5 million
(before reshoots)[3][4]

Space Rage: Breakout on Prison Planet is a 1985 American space Western film directed by Conrad E. Palmisano and starring Richard Farnsworth, Michael Paré, John Laughlin, Lee Purcell and William Windom. Some promotional materials have used the abridged title Space Rage.[5] The original version of the film, Trackers, only received a test release and was not widely seen.[2]

Plot

Two centuries in the future, a dangerous lunatic named Grange is sentenced to a penal colony, Botany Bay, on the planet Proxima Centauri 3. There, a bounty hunter and an ex-policeman team up to prevent him from escaping.[6]

Cast

Production

The film was the brainchild of

Friday the 13th producer Steve Minasian, Don't Scream: It's Only a Movie! and April Fool's Day (later renamed Slaughter High).[3] The film's budget was initially estimated between $3.2 million and $3.5 million.[3][4]
It was helmed by stunt coordinator Conrad Palmisano, in his main unit directorial debut.

Principal photography began on January 26, 1985.[10] During a personal appearance in early March, Farnsworth confirmed that he had just wrapped up work on the film.[11] The movie was shot under the title A Dollar a Day.[11] Shortly after however, it had been re-titled to Trackers: 2180 or just Trackers.[3][7] Some sources mention another considered title, The Last Frontier.[2][8] Farnsworth, who was disappointed with his previous performance and contemplating retirement, expressed satisfaction with the picture.[11] Reed conceded that he had been surprised by the demands of filmmaking, saying: "It's incredible, such hard hours, that I don't think there can be a really, totally bad filmmaker in the world. If you finish, you're a hero. No matter how you did it, it's incredible."[7] Following test screenings however, Reed's efforts fell short of expectations and the movie was ordered to undergo reshoots, which were directed by production executive Peter McCarthy.[10]

Release

Theatrical

The film received a theatrical premiere in Stamford, Connecticut, the hometown of production company Vestron, on Christmas 1985.[2][9][10] By early 1986, it was still being promoted as Trackers: 2180.[12] It was then shelved and retooled before its actual release as Space Rage in Ohio, starting on November 21, 1986.[1] However, there is no indication that it ever expanded to other markets.

Home media

The film was released on

Lightning Video on July 21, 1987.[13]

Reception

The Variety reviewer identified as Lor. was negative, opining: "Special effects are meager and there is almost no futurism to the picture's design, an instant disappointment for sci-fi fans. A good cast is wasted, particularly Lee Purcell." He summed up the film as a "clunker."[2] Leonard Maltin wrote that Farnsworth "should've turned [his laser-beam six-shooter] on the negative of this bomb."[14] Sister publications The Motion Picture Annual and TV Guide called it "an uneasy blend of science fiction and western," although they praised the unconventional casting of Paré as a villain.[9][15] Bantam Books' Movies on TV and Videocassette felt that "futuristic trappings fail to enliven this tired shoot-'em-up."[16]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack includes song by alternative rock bands The Spikes, The Screaming Believers, Exploding White Mice, Dream Syndicate and Blood Money.

References

  1. ^ a b "Area Showtimes". The News-Messenger. Fremont. November 20, 1986. p. Time Out 3  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  2. ^
    ISBN 0835226670
    .
  3. ^
    ISSN 0006-2510
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 9781932472530
    .
  5. ISBN 9781476662572
    .
  6. ^ Brennan, Sandra (2007). "Space Rage (1986)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 24, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c "Psychologist becomes a filmmaker on a dare". The Daily Press. Victorville. Associated Press. May 17, 1985. p. C-3.
  8. ^ a b "Space Rage (1985)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  9. ^
    ISBN 9780933997172
    .
  10. ^ a b c "Space Rage: Miscellaneous Notes". tcm.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Carter, Tom (March 10, 1985). "State trying to draw filmmakers: arts fund plans drive". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D2  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  12. ^ "The '86 Pix Mix". Los Angeles Times. January 12, 1986. p. 12  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  13. ^ "Home Video Guide". Palm Beach Post. July 17, 1987. p. 23  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  14. ISBN 9780698183612
    .
  15. ^ "Space Rage". TV Guide. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  16. ISBN 0553282883
    .
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