There were some really fun Science Fiction films in the seventies. "The Omega Man", "Soylent Green", "Logan's Run" were all quite successful and "ZPG" was one of those overlooked films that disappeared into video obscurity in the early eighties. I myself saw this in Argentina on late night cable dubbed in Spanish in my
early teens and haven't seen it since. It is available on both VHS and DVD.
Since it's been around 30 years ago I saw this, I'll do my best and write what I remember. I can't give it a proper rating either since it was years ago and I think I was twelve at the time.
Plot: In the future childbirth is outlawed due to overpopulation for the next 30 years until things get under control. Married couples are fortunate to purchase horrible robotic babies that cry as an alternative. If I remember correctly the babies can eat, urinate and defecate. One day after sex with a hunky husband (Oliver Reed), the wife decides not to push her birth control apparatus. The couple secretly conceive the infant and plan to flee the polluted city to raise the infant in the peaceful country side, mountains. Plot Spoiler alert: The fascist police state capture the couple and infant, trapping them in a transparent dome left to die. The husband has something up his sleeve though. He has a hidden shovel in his coat and digs his way to freedom. The family flee on a raft that has been hidden in advance.
That's about all I can remember and I really enjoyed it at the time, but would probably think other wise as an adult. It did make an impression on me I must admit. I also remember a weird score consisting of bleeps and electronic music typical of the seventies. I really want to get my hands on this one again, but not with great expectations. Click ... I just put this on my list.
Oliver Reed looks drunk throughout the film as he often was on sets.
If you'd like to see Oliver Reed and Klaus Kinski drunk on set, make sure to watch the English film "Venom", as the dynamic duo are trapped in a house surrounded by the police as they fight a rubber snake. Great stuff.
October 18, 2010
