Turkey Shoot (Escape 2000)(1982)

Review by Mari Lynne Rupp



In a post-apocalyptic Australia, those who do not conform, or "Deviants" are brought to "Re-Education" camps to be released to civilized society. Unfortunately, the guards and keepers of the camps are as uncivilize as they come, taking opportunities to torture, humiliate and rape as many 'deviants' as they wish. Nobody tells, no one makes it out alive.
Directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith, this Oz-sploitation gives us a strong political satire of the future as so-called 'deviants' and 'traitors' are hauled away and forced to toil and work and bow to the whims of the guards and upper-class who enjoy watching their pain and humilation. Some of the Directors even go so far as to use the prisoners as a deadly hunt game, until they run across the wrong group of rebels.
Starring Olivia Hussey, Steve Railsback and Lynda Stoner as the camp prisoners being hunted, this tongue in cheek look at society's ever-widening gap of the struggling working class and the Pedigree set, is just brilliantly written and directed. It's horrifyin without going into too much detail, and just enough action to grab your attention from the get-go and keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.
It gives a fantastic view of absolute power corrupting absolutely, yet not too heavy a movie if you're in the mood for something light.
8/10