This dystopian sci-fi thriller was filmed almost entirely in Alabama, dividing most of its main shoots between Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile, with its opening scenes prominently featuring Morris Avenue and Sloss Furnaces as establishing shots from the Magic City. Starring Richard Harris, Art Carney, Ann Turkel and Ernest Borgnine, and based off of a 1966 novel by Robert Edmond Alter called Path to Savagery, the film depicts a post-apocalyptic America in the wake of a nuclear holocaust that sees a small group of survivors try to fend for themselves against mutant marauders known as Ravagers, who stalk them at every turn in a desolate hellscape devoid of basic supplies, safe shelter or ways to defend themselves. A largely schlocky, and forgotten, Z-grade midnight movie that did little at the box office upon its initial release, viewed now through the lens of history and nostalgia, it’s an interesting snapshot of not just Birmingham and Alabama at the time, but of a certain strain of dystopian filmmaking that was very popular during the 1970s, and a fun watch for anyone interested in looking back over the changing face of the Magic City as it went from hollowed out industrial shell to the newly invigorated city it is now. Following the hero’s journey of Falk (Richard Harris) as he recovers from an attack at Sloss Furnaces by the Ravagers where his beloved female counterpart is raped and murdered, the tragedy sets him off on a journey through the wilds of Alabama where he eventually ends up in Huntsville at the historic Three Caves Quarry in the beautiful Monte Sano region of the city, and then even further afield on his quest to reach a mythical land known as Genesis. Along the way he encounters a dazed and confused ex-military man known as Sergeant (Art Carney), who leads him to a haven of other human survivors where he encounters the lovely Faina (Ann Turkel), who becomes his new love interest, fighting partner and traveling companion on the way to find more Flockers (ie- human survivors like themselves). They eventually arrive at what appears to be an abandoned ship along the coast of Mobile, only to discover that it is inhabited by people who have established something of a utopian, if deeply isolated and controlled, mini-society run by a man named Rann (Ernest Borgnine) where they plan to live until they die. Unfortunately for our hero and his crew, the Ravagers have tracked them all the way to the shoreline, and after watching them paddle by skiff to the ship, they plan a sneak attack in the middle of the night to try and overtake the humans and kill them for their spoils. Foiled by Falk, Rann and other members of the Flockers entourage, who end up blowing up the ship with the Ravagers on it, they then start off on yet another epic journey to start life anew on their continuing quest to find the mythical land of Genesis where the film abruptly ends. With so much of Birmingham and Alabama featured in the film it’s hard not to love this retro piece of bygone filmmaking, even if it lacks much character development, depth or even good acting. But then again, that may just be what makes it so great now here in the 21st century. Midnight movies for the win!!!
FUN FACT: The film also heavily features parts of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville in some of the more memorable scenes establishing Alabama as a post-apocalyptic wasteland that has somehow managed to become a refuge for the last of humanity following the nuclear disaster. How that came to be is never fully discussed or elaborated on, but still deserves a hardy “Roll Tide!”
Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBSXb1s-7Ow