Warrior of the Lost World
Encyclopedia
Warrior of the Lost World (also known as Mad Rider) is a 1983 Italian post-apocalyptic science fiction film
written and directed by David Worth starring Robert Ginty
, Persis Khambatta
, and Donald Pleasence
. It was created and first released in Italy under the title Il Giustiziere della terra perduta ("The Executioner of the Lost Earth") in 1983 during the wide popularity of the Mad Max
films, and many subsequently created post-apocalyptic films of the 1980s. Later the movie was given another Italian title for VHS and television markets, I predatori dell'anno Omega ("Raiders of the Omega year")
state run by the evil Prossor. The Elders are allied with the resistance movement, the Outsiders. The Rider first helps Nastasia and the other Outsiders by rescuing McWayne, Nastasia's father and leader of the Outsiders. While the Rider and McWayne successfully escape, Nastasia is captured and tortured by Prossor.
The Rider gains acceptance from various Marginals (amazons, martial artists, truckers, punks, soldiers, Omega defectors) by winning in the ritual brawl which determines who is the strongest. The Rider and the Outsiders launch their final attack on Prossor's regime
, but are intercepted by the Omegas and a giant armored truck, called Megaweapon. As the rebels destroy the Omega patrols with their cars (Ford Taunus
TCs), helicopters and tankers, the Rider manages to destroy the Megaweapon by short circuiting it, but not before his speedcycle is destroyed under the truck's wheels. The Rider and McWayne storm Prossor's headquarters where they face the dictator and a brainwashed Nastasia. She wounds the Rider, but when ordered to kill her father, she rebels, turns on Prossor and shoots him instead. The Omega has been overthrown and the Outsiders and Marginals celebrate as the Rider prepares to move on with his repaired speedcycle.
In a last-minute twist, it is revealed that the man Nastasia shot was actually a cyborg
clone and the real Prossor is still alive. He flies away with an unnamed traitor of the New Way (Fred Williamson
) plotting revenge against the "animals" that defeated him.
. A recurring joke is that the crew can't remember the lead actor Robert Ginty's name, referring to him as "the Paper Chase
guy." The crew also find the voice of the speedcycle's display screen so irritating that they cheer when it is destroyed by Megaweapon, referring to Megaweapon onwards as "the only good thing in this movie" and even giving Megaweapon a phone call after watching the movie.
The MST3K version of the movie was released on DVD by Shout! Factory
in December 2009 as part of the Volume 16 box set. The DVD includes an interview with director David Worth, who discussed the making of the movie (his directorial debut). Worth previously appeared at the first ConventioCon ExpoFest-A-Rama
in 1994, and describes himself as a fan of the show.
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
written and directed by David Worth starring Robert Ginty
Robert Ginty
Robert Ginty was an American movie actor, producer, scenarist, and director of movies and TV series episodes.-Early life:...
, Persis Khambatta
Persis Khambatta
Persis Khambatta was an Indian model, actress and author. She was best known for her role as Lieutenant Ilia in the 1979 feature film Star Trek: The Motion Picture.-Early Life:...
, and Donald Pleasence
Donald Pleasence
Sir Donald Henry Pleasence, OBE, was a British actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades...
. It was created and first released in Italy under the title Il Giustiziere della terra perduta ("The Executioner of the Lost Earth") in 1983 during the wide popularity of the Mad Max
Mad Max
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
films, and many subsequently created post-apocalyptic films of the 1980s. Later the movie was given another Italian title for VHS and television markets, I predatori dell'anno Omega ("Raiders of the Omega year")
Plot
The Rider arrives on his advanced motorcycle with its artificial intelligence computer Einstein. He crashes but manages to pass through the 'wall of illusion' and is found and brought back to health by the Enlightened Elders. They have chosen him to lead their fight against the evil Omega, an OrwellianOrwellian
"Orwellian" describes the situation, idea, or societal condition that George Orwell identified as being destructive to the welfare of a free society...
state run by the evil Prossor. The Elders are allied with the resistance movement, the Outsiders. The Rider first helps Nastasia and the other Outsiders by rescuing McWayne, Nastasia's father and leader of the Outsiders. While the Rider and McWayne successfully escape, Nastasia is captured and tortured by Prossor.
The Rider gains acceptance from various Marginals (amazons, martial artists, truckers, punks, soldiers, Omega defectors) by winning in the ritual brawl which determines who is the strongest. The Rider and the Outsiders launch their final attack on Prossor's regime
Regime
The word regime refers to a set of conditions, most often of a political nature.-Politics:...
, but are intercepted by the Omegas and a giant armored truck, called Megaweapon. As the rebels destroy the Omega patrols with their cars (Ford Taunus
Ford Taunus
The Ford Taunus is a family car sold by Ford in Germany and other countries. Models from 1970 onward were similar to the Ford Cortina in the United Kingdom...
TCs), helicopters and tankers, the Rider manages to destroy the Megaweapon by short circuiting it, but not before his speedcycle is destroyed under the truck's wheels. The Rider and McWayne storm Prossor's headquarters where they face the dictator and a brainwashed Nastasia. She wounds the Rider, but when ordered to kill her father, she rebels, turns on Prossor and shoots him instead. The Omega has been overthrown and the Outsiders and Marginals celebrate as the Rider prepares to move on with his repaired speedcycle.
In a last-minute twist, it is revealed that the man Nastasia shot was actually a cyborg
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
clone and the real Prossor is still alive. He flies away with an unnamed traitor of the New Way (Fred Williamson
Fred Williamson
Fred "The Hammer" Williamson is an American actor, architect, and former professional American football defensive back who played mainly in the American Football League during the 1960s.-Football career:...
) plotting revenge against the "animals" that defeated him.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Warrior of the Lost World was the first episode of the fifth season of Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
. A recurring joke is that the crew can't remember the lead actor Robert Ginty's name, referring to him as "the Paper Chase
The Paper Chase (TV series)
The Paper Chase is a television series based on a 1970 novel by John Jay Osborn, Jr., as well as a 1973 film based on the novel. It follows the lives of law student James T. Hart and his classmates at Harvard Law School.-Production:...
guy." The crew also find the voice of the speedcycle's display screen so irritating that they cheer when it is destroyed by Megaweapon, referring to Megaweapon onwards as "the only good thing in this movie" and even giving Megaweapon a phone call after watching the movie.
The MST3K version of the movie was released on DVD by Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
in December 2009 as part of the Volume 16 box set. The DVD includes an interview with director David Worth, who discussed the making of the movie (his directorial debut). Worth previously appeared at the first ConventioCon ExpoFest-A-Rama
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
in 1994, and describes himself as a fan of the show.