Oblivion (1994 film)

Oblivion
Directed by Sam Irvin
Written by Peter David
Starring Richard Joseph Paul
Jackie Swanson
Andrew Divoff
George Takei
Julie Newmar
Isaac Hayes
Meg Foster
Production
company
Distributed by Multicom Entertainment Group Inc., Full Moon Entertainment
Shout! Factory (2011 DVD)
Release dates
  • December 14, 1994 (1994-12-14)
Running time
 94 min.
Country United States

Oblivion is a 1994 American western-science fiction dark comedy film directed by Sam Irvin and written by Peter David. It stars Richard Joseph Paul, Andrew Divoff, George Takei,[1] Julie Newmar, Musetta Vander, Isaac Hayes and Meg Foster.[2] It was followed by a sequel, Oblivion 2: Backlash.

Plot

The story has been described as a science fiction Western.[3] It is, arguably, better termed a space Western, due to its extraterrestrial location.

Set in the year 3031 on a frontier planet light years away from Earth, a bizarre gang of futuristic desperadoes have their sight set on turning the tumbleweed town of Oblivion into their own private playground.[4]

This film is set in a frontier town, Oblivion, which resembles the Old West, on a planet "light years" from Earth. The action begins with the murder of the town's Marshal Stone by a power-hungry villain called Red Eye (Andrew Divoff). Using a substance prized on the planet—which also happens to short out electrical devices—Red Eye cheats his way to victory during a showdown on the street, killing Stone and disabling his cyborg deputy, Stell (Meg Foster). He and his cronies begin to bully and persuade the townspeople into allowing him to take over the town. Oblivion's mortician, Gaunt, who possesses supernatural ability to foresee death, seeks out the Marshal's son, Zack (Richard Joseph Paul), who is prospecting in the wilderness.

Meanwhile, Zack saves a "native," Buteo (Jimmie F. Skaggs), from an untimely death by giant scorpion. They team up just before Gaunt arrives with the news of Marshal Stone's death, and they all journey together to Oblivion for the funeral. During a misadventure in a saloon along the way, Zack avoids violence, even when harangued by one of Red Eye's henchmen. After attending his father's funeral, Zack visits his old friend Doc Valentine (George Takei), an inventor whose technology had failed to protect the Marshal. At the local whorehouse, a townswoman, Mattie (Jackie Swanson), learns that Zack is not a coward, but an empath, who feels everything that those around him experience. This leads him to abhor violence. Buteo learns that one of Red Eye's associates had been responsible for the deaths of his wife and children, and seeks revenge. Challenging him to a fair fight, Buteo triumphs and his opponent is killed. Red Eye and his gang capture Buteo in retaliation, place him in stocks, and whip him.

Sensing that something unsavoury is going on, Zack confronts his fears, saving Buteo and shooting many of the townspeople who had taken Red Eye's side. Apparently having won a victory, Zack celebrates until he learns that Mattie has been taken by Red Eye into the Badlands. He and his friends rush to save her, and in the process defeat all of the villains for good.

Cast

Release

After quick runs at numerous film festivals, the film was released directly to videocassette during the 1994 holiday season. In 2002, the film was released on DVD by Artisan Entertainment but was discontinued for reasons not given. The film has subsequently been re-released on DVD, by Full Moon Entertainment, in 2010, and on DVD again by Shout! Factory on July 5, 2011.

Reception

Patrick Bromley stated the movie "Taken on its own terms, Oblivion is pretty terrific. Oblivion was clearly made by people (among them director Sam Irvin and writers Charles Band and Peter David) who love old westerns and sci-fi movies and, unable to decide which to make, mashed them together".[5] The IMDB is less kind, rating the movie 5.2 out of 10.

References

  1. ↑ "George Takei Bio". georgetakei.com. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Oblivion (1994)". Artist Direct. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  3. ↑ Brennan, Sandra. "Oblivion Plot Synopsis". All Movie Guide. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  4. ↑ Found footage The Original Cowboys And Aliens Movie
  5. ↑ http://www.fthismovie.net/2014/02/full-moon-fever-oblivion-1994.html
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