It is the year 2274 and
the descendants of a humanity ravaged by war, pollution and
overpopulation are clustered inside a large domed city. Population
control and distribution of resources is assured by a simple means: once
people reach the age of 30, they are ritualistically killed in a
ceremony known as the Carrousel to be reborn anew, or so the government
propaganda would have it. Those who balk at this somewhat mercenary
approach are known as Runners, and they are hunted down and summarily
dealt with by a futuristic peacekeeping force known as the Sandmen.
Vigilant Sandman Logan 5
(Michael York) is one of the most successful stalkers of those
attempting to flee their fate. In the guise of double agent he begins
an association with the free-thinking Jessica 6 (Jenny Agutter),
determined to infiltrate the gang of Runners he believes her to have
connections with. His unstated intention is to locate and destroy
Sanctuary, the postulated haven where successful Runners congregate
outside the hermetically sealed dome of the city.
Combining elements of
Planet of the Apes, 1984 and some of Arthur C. Clarke’s wilder
flights of fancy, the film proved popular and financially lucrative upon
initial release, though has been subsequently overshadowed in the
popular consciousness by some of the decade’s better-known epics such as
Star Wars and Alien. Despite being relegated to cult
status however, the film holds up well and is a worthy addition to the
dystopian subgenre. The special effects appear rather quaint by modern
standards and given the age of the original print the picture quality is
a little soft, yet on the whole Logan’s Run remains a well-paced
and thoroughly entertaining affair. The strength of the material amply
compensates for any technical deficiencies, and both Agutter and York,
who is perhaps best known to modern audiences as Basil Exposition from
the Austin Powers series, put in polished and believable
performances. The film also contains some enjoyable cameos, including
Farrah Fawcett as a ditzy medical aide and Peter Ustinov as a doddering
old loner who inhabits the ruins outside the city walls.
With a remake reportedly
in the pipeline, now is the perfect time to acquaint yourself with this
fun, vibrant and slightly kitsch slab of 70s sci-fi. The disc is
affordably priced at around $20, and also includes an enlightening audio
commentary with York, director Michael Anderson and costume designer
Bill Thomas, who won a well-deserved Academy Award for his work on the
project. Highly recommended for fans of all things dystopian, and those
who prefer their sci-fi with a hint of vintage flair.
Special Features
Audio Commentary
Making-Of Featurette –
A Look Into the 23rd Century
Theatrical Trailer
