MANDROID

The conveyer belt of 88 Film’s Grindhouse Collection, made up of direct to video schlock being re-released onto DVD keeps chugging along. MANDROID, directed by Jack Ersgard, manifested on domestic cathode tubes via its original VHS release back in 1993. Considering that was the year the already established ROBOCOP series was just about to spawn its second sequel along with the fact THE TERMINATOR saga had pushed the envelope with its special effects in 1991’s T2, Ersgard’s movie truly had its work cut out if it was going to make an impact.

The story is set in Eastern Europe in the ‘present day’, which of course translates as 1993. Dr Karl Zimmer (Robert Symonds) is vigorously testing a prototype robot’s ability to drive a hatchback at break neck speed around the streets of Romania. The virtual reality component snugly sitting on the Dr’s head allows him to control the Mandroid unit and thus drive the car. Along for the ride, literally, is the Dr’s assistant, Benjamin Knight (Michael Della Femina). Zimmer’s daughter Zanna (Jane Caldwell, whose sparkling American accent is at odds to her father’s Eastern bloc enunciation!) is also present along with the co-creator of the unit, Dr Ivan Drago (Curt Lowens). It is possible that all the ‘roids’ a certain Russian Heavyweight injected back in ROCKY IV has reduced his height, accelerated his age, changed his features and increased his intelligence tenfold thus allowing him to pursue a new career as a scientist; OR maybe, just maybe THIS Ivan Drago is a completely different person! Mmmmm I wonder...

Either way, when the speeding car slams into a wall, Drago is notably more concerned about his mechanical masterpiece, than the wellbeing of that puny human Knight.

Another difference of opinion Drago has with his three colleagues is the fact that Zimmer is about to ‘sell out’ to the United States. The CIA is en route to Zimmer’s lab the next day to fork out a few gazillion dollars and take control of the new project. But wait… it’s NOT the Mandroid that they are splashing their military’s cash on. It is in fact a new substance called Supercon!

Derived from exotic mushroom spores (wow is there ANYTHING those sexy mind bending babies CAN’T do?) the Supercon matter can not only ‘cure all diseases’, it can also work as a ‘very efficient and pollution free fuel’. There is just one small problem with producing this crystalline constituent; when the chemical stimulant is added to the fungus, it gives off the most potent of poisonous gasses. This toxic hindrance is the reason MANDROID was originally designed – to be an imperishable helping hand in the laboratory.

Why they didn’t just invent the top half to mix the compound and invest their time and energy into better security for the lab is somewhat ponderous but hey.

It’s when CIA agent Joe Smith (the director’s brother Patrick Ersgard) and his cohort, scientist Wade Franklin (Brian Cousins) arrive in town to finalise the deal that things go a little pear shaped.

Drago (probably still punch drunk from the battering Balboa gave him 8 years previous... sorry, sorry) tries in vain to cut a deal with the USA himself. It transpires that, as inconceivable as it may seem, a few subtle modifications to the Mandroid unit could indeed convert it into an indestructible fighting machine.

Disgruntled by the American delegate’s unwillingness to deal, he takes matters into his own hands. But when his raid on the lab turns nasty, he slips into a vat of chemicals and is deformed into a mass of welts and boils.

In a truly chaotic climax, Drago recruits a mute who fashions a metal mask for his new master. Surgeons are kidnapped and forced to perform surgery and a whole bunch of people get shot! Will Drago finally have full control of Mandroid as part of his nefarious strategy to achieve world domination? Will Smith be able to resist the lure of Romanian Leu? And why the hell is Knight literally disappearing before everyone’s very eyes?!

Although esteemed directors Verhoeven and Cameron probably weren’t sweating in panic when this 77 minute rival hit video shelfs across the USA, neither were they grinding their teeth at seeing their work ripped off. The telepathically controlled unit was merely a remotely controlled tool for either its virtuous or merciless master.

I felt the movie played out like a 1970’s comic book in many ways complete with evil scientist, corrupt CIA agent and of course an unyielding mechanical unit capable of taking on the military single handed. That’s not a bad thing in itself, but at times the narrative sprinted along without bothering with explanations or justifications allowing the implausibility to be cranked up to deafening levels!

After being drowned in ‘non-violent Erotic Sci Fi’ from the previous 88 FILMS Grindhouse Collection, it was quite refreshing to see a little mild violence. Bottles busted over heads, a few fisticuffs and a liberal use of squibs all combined to keep the action flowing. It lost points little when Agent Smith took a bullet and, with his chest squibbed to buggery, simply got up after a little grimace and carried on as normal! Maybe those Eastern European bullets aren’t quite up to the standard of Uncle Sam’s huh?!

The picture quality of the disc was very impressive. Understandably we are treated to the 4:3 aspect ratio and within it even the night time scenes were perceptible, crisp and showcased Vlad Paunescu’s commendable lighting with aplomb. The audio was also top notch. Dialogue was distinct, the gunshots were cracking and the motorized stomps of the Mandroid himself injected some real oomph into proceedings.

The Bonus Material was short and sweet but was a very welcome addition to the disc. The mandatory Full Moon trailer park and original movie trailer were included but it was another episode of VIDEOZONE that was really intriguing. Although only 8 minutes in length, it took us behind the scenes of the shoot and revealed some quite startling background. Starting by setting out the complications of a Swedish director, an American cast and a Romanian crew having to work together after the script had undergone some last minute changes justified the dubious nature of the story leaping forward like a scratched LP.

It was easy to sympathise with the Swedish director in his interviews as he honestly looked like he was ready to get the sucker in the can and get the fuck outta there!

The American cast (Cousins in particular) hardly covered themselves in glory with their arrogant attitudes. Bemoaning the fact the coffee tasted "somewhere between instant and Turkish" along with lamenting the lack of "hamburgers", I very much doubt these Yankee Diva Dandies endeared themselves to their Eastern European hosts.

Mandroid designer Jake McKinnon actually played the robot himself and his intricate knowledge of how the suit functioned was, I dare say, priceless in bringing Mandroid to life on the small screen.

All in all MANDROID is fun and nonsensical in equal amounts. Most tellingly though were the final credits. A planned sequel to MANDROID of sorts effectively shelved the robot in favour of focusing on the ruined assistant Knight. There was no clear explanation for his ever increasing transparency. I assumed it was a case of overexposure to some form of radioactivity. But then again, maybe his cohorts and been taking sizable chomps of that enigmatic mushroom while we weren’t looking...

Stay tuned for INVISIBLE: THE CHRONICLES OF BENJAMIN KNIGHT!

Review by Marc Lissenburg