Empire of Ash

Empire of Ash
Directed byMichael Mazo
Lloyd A. Simandl
Written byLloyd A. Simandl
Saul Urbonas
Story byLloyd A. Simandl
Produced byJohn A. Curtis
Michael Mazo
Lloyd A. Simandl
StarringMelanie Kilgour
Thom Schioler
Frank Wilson
Sandy Mackenzie
James Stevens
Michele Chiponski
CinematographyNathaniel Massey
Edited byMichael Mazo
Music byTom Lavin
Bill Buckingham
Production
company
North American Pictures
Distributed byNorth American Releasing
Release date
  • January 5, 1990 (1990-01-05) (Canada)
Running time
96 minutes
LanguageEnglish
BudgetCAD$400,000

Empire of Ash is a 1988 Canadian post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Lloyd A Simandl and Michael Mazo, and starring Melanie Kilgour, Thom Schioler and Frank Wilson. In some markets, the film was released as Empire of Ash II. In the U.S., it was released as Maniac Warriors.

Plot

In 2050, sometime after a nuclear war, Danielle searches for her missing sister in New Idaho. All cities have been destroyed and humanity lives in small groups scattered through the countryside. The Warriors, a government-sanctioned paramilitary group lead by an insane man, have kidnapped the healthy sister in an attempt to harvest her healthy blood. Danielle meets a man named Orion, who joins her in her quest.

Cast

  • Melanie Kilgour as Danielle
  • Thom Schioler as Orion
  • Frank Wilson as Shepherd
  • James Stevens as Iodine
  • Alexander MacKenzie as Chuck
  • Michele Chiponski as Baalca
  • Ann Louise Meyer
  • Eric Horsfall as Grandpa
  • Michael Bernardo as Head Raider
  • David Gregg as Rocket Man
  • Richard Candy as Savage Gunner
  • Nic Amoroso as Main Unit Raider

Production

Principal photography took place around September 1987 in British Columbia, Canada, the home province of Lloyd A. Simandl's North American Pictures.[1] The forests surrounding Squamish stood in for Idaho.[2] The antagonists' main vehicle, the "Battle Wagon", was a customized snowplow truck that was brought in from Whistler.[3] Stuntman Blaine Lamoureux suffered an eye injury from a prop gun fired by Melanie Kilgour, and later sued both the actress and production company for damages.[1] Like other early North American projects, it was photographed in 16 mm.[4] The film was scheduled for completion in January 1988.[5] The announced budget was CAD$400,000 (about US$300,000 at the time).[3]

Release

Pre-release

Although North American Pictures' sister outfit North American Releasing was in charge of sales,[4] the movie was represented by Alexander Beck Enterprises at the 1988 American Film Market. By that time, it had been renamed Empire of Ash II in an apparent effort to drum up additional business.[6][7] By early 1989, its sequel was in the can but the film had not yet found a U.S. distributor.[8]

Television

The film received its Canadian premiere on premium cable channel First Choice on January 5, 1990, as Empire of Ash II.[9][10]

Home media

In the U.S., the film was belatedly released on May 6, 1992, by A.I.P. Home Video, who renamed it again to Maniac Warriors.[11][12] In Australia, the film was released in the first week of July 1988, and the tape from Macro Entertainment retained the Empire of Ash title.[13][14] In the U.K., the tape from Mogul Communications also went by Empire of Ash. The BBFC lists a certification date of September 6, 1989.[15] However, contemporary press suggests that it actually hit the market nearly one year prior.[16] By September 1989, the film had made back more than twice its budget.[3]

Reception

Empire of Ash has received largely negative reviews. In his syndicated Video Scene column, British critic John Brooker commented that [o]bviously all the money went on the flashes and bangs because little could have been spent on the script and acting lessons for the cast." He called it "passable for die-hard action fans, but even they will find it hard to it through to the end" [16] British publication Elliot's Guide to Home Entertainment derided "[a] low-budget Mad Max clone of inane dialogue, minimal plotting and mindless action."[17] Psychotronic Video acknowledged a few creative touches, like "an OK rock score" and the inclusion of "fun bits from the past" into the film's futuristic setting.[18] The Blockbuster Entertainment Guide to Movies and Videos disagreed, calling it "pretty weird stuff."[19]

Sequel

The film received a sequel the following year, Empire of Ash III.

References

  1. ^ a b "Stuntman sues". The Province. Vancouver. Sep 4, 1988. p. 13  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  2. ^ Walsh, Michael (Mar 7, 2015). "Feature Films Made in Vancouver [Part 9: Encore II]". reelingback.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Ip, Greg (September 30, 1989). "Getting in on the action". The Vancouver Sun. p. B8  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  4. ^ a b Bidd, Donald, ed. (1990). "Directory of producers and distributors". Film/Video Canadiana 1987–1988. Montreal: National Film Board of Canada; National Archives of Canada; National Library of Canada; La Cinémathèque québécoise. p. 103. ISSN 0836-1002.
  5. ^ Dietz, Diane (Dec 3, 1987). "So, you wanna be a star". The Bellingham Herald. p. C1  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  6. ^ Chatenever, Rick (March 11, 1988). "The Spice of Life". Santa Cruz Sentinel. p. 10 (Spotlight)  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  7. ^ Newton, James (2021). The Mad Max Effect: Road Warriors in International Exploitation Cinema. New York: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 135. ISBN 9781501342295.
  8. ^ "Sneaks '89". Los Angeles Times/Calendar. Jan 15, 1989. p. 21  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  9. ^ Charles, John (November–December 1992). "Retitlings". Video Watchdog. No. 14. Cincinnati: Tim Lucas. pp. 20–21. ISSN 1070-9991.
  10. ^ "Tuesday (Cont.)". Niagara Falls Review/TV Scene. Jan 5, 1990. p. 16-A  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  11. ^ "The New and Reviewed: Video Calendar". The Charlotte Observer/Break. May 6, 1992. p. 12  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  12. ^ Hartl, John (May 2, 1992). "Top Canadian film 'Commond Bonds' goes straight to video". The Daily Dispatch and Argus. Moline. Seattle Times. p. C9  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  13. ^ "New on Video". The Age/Green Guide. Melbourne. June 30, 1988. p.  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  14. ^ "Empire of Ash (Australia)". videocollector.co. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "Empire of Ash". bbfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019.
  16. ^ a b Brooker, John (Nov 10, 1988). "Video Scene". Herts and Essex Observer. p. 33  – via newspapers.com (subscription required) .
  17. ^ Elliot, John (1990). "The Films". Elliot's Guide to Home Entertainment (1st ed.). London: Boxtree. ISBN 1852832991.
  18. ^ Weldon, Michael J. (September 1996). The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 353. ISBN 9780312131494.
  19. ^ Castell, J. Ronald, ed. (September 1996) [1994]. Blockbuster Entertainment Guide to Movies and Videos 1997. New York: The Philip Lief Group; Island Books. p. 767. ISBN 0440222753.