Main Cast: Al Cliver, Laura Gemser, George Eastman, Jack Davis, Al Yamanouchi
Release Year: 1983
Country: IT
Run Time: 98 minutes
Plot
This violent sci-fi actioner is set in an irradiated New York City a few years following a terrible nuclear holocaust. Within the city, telepathically linked mutants abound, and people entertain themselves by attending gladiator fights to the death. The story centers on a group of mutants as they try to escape the brutal confines of the city. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review
The director's credit might say "Steven Benson" but this actually the work of Italian sexploitation Joe D'Amato, who took his second stab at the post-apocalyptic action genre with this quickie. Those looking for painstaking crafted, artsy fare won't find it in Endgame: D'Amato's workmanlike direction shows none of the visually expressive flair of his sexploitation work and the performances are mostly flat, especially grim-faced lead Al Cliver. That said, any b-movie fan willing to leave their brain at the door is likely to get a kick out of Endgame. The script, penned by actor George Eastman and D'Amato under the shared pseudonym Alex Carver, has some clever ideas (its gladiator game-show concept anticipates the film version of The Running Man) and the occasional flash of wit. Best of all, it delivers a steady stream of action setpieces that make the most of the film's low budget. It's also worth noting that Eastman delivers a charismatic performance as Cliver's main rival (and probably would have made a better leading man). Behind the camera, D'Amato keeps things rolling at an agreeable clip and never skimps on the stunts or gunplay. The finished product won't win over any highbrow fans but Endgame offers a reasonable amount of tacky fun for the cult-movie set. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
In the year 2025, a horrible nuclear holocaust during World War III has left New York City, among others, irradiated and decrepit, but not abandoned. The city, now a poverty-stricken hellhole, is inhabited by brutish packs of scavengers and telepathically-linked mutants, who are violently persecuted by a prejudiced élite. Keeping the people at bay is a reality television program called Endgame, where hunters and gladiators fight to the death. The film tells the story of Endgame veteran and mutant Ron Shannon (Cliver), who assembles to team to take a group of mutants, led by Lilith (Laura Gemser), to escape to safety through the desert, avoiding such dangers as blind yet deadly monks, nomadic predators, machine gun-sporting government agents from New York, and Shannon's former-friend-turned-nemesis Karnak (George Eastman).
