What's weird - and frustrating - about 'Mad Max (1979)' is that it essentially takes around seventy minutes to get to its inciting incident (or, at least, what every synopsis I've ever read implies is its inciting incident). The pacing is all out of whack, leading to a very rushed finale that's far less cathartic than it could have been if it were allowed a little more room to breathe. It's arguable that the lack of satisfaction found when Max finally gets mad is purposeful, a comment on the inherently unfulfilling nature of vengeance and a reflection of the hateful numbness our hero finds himself drowning in. Even if that is the intention, it doesn't make the finale as is any more powerful, and it also doesn't dilute the disappointment that occurs when you've waited so long for something that ultimately proves to be less spectacular than the sequence which you didn't have to wait for at all (the opening is probably the most entertaining segment of the overall affair due to the sheer carnage it hits you with). The middle portion is necessary so that Max's family is more than a plot device, but it really should've been compressed into the first act so that the bulk of the film could've been about what it has always been advertised as being about. Major pacing issues aside, there is a certain scrappy charm to a lot of the movie. It's a low-budget affair that manages to get by on petrol fumes alone, the palpable stink of its on-screen engines almost leaking from the screen and suffocating you in your seat. Its seat-of-your-pants stunt work seems to have been accomplished by sheer will and a total disregard for safety; it's a miracle no-one was killed during filming. This gives the flick a dangerous atmosphere that blends with its off-kilter and slightly nasty world filled with biker gangs and leather uniforms. It doesn't have the aesthetic one readily associates with this franchise (the sequel solidifies that), opting instead for a pre-apocalyptic vibe that essentially pushes rural Australia just a little bit further away from conventional society. It's still a weird and distinct world, though, and it gives the flick's most memorable moments (one of which literally inspired the entire Saw franchise) a bit of extra flair. The film is never as exciting as it should be, even during its action, but it's entertaining enough to be worth watching at least once (especially if you're interested in seeing where the franchise goes). It has its more obvious highlights and even its slower segments are far from unbearable; it's not bad, by any means. It's underwhelming, though, especially given its reputation as a cult classic. It's a good template for what's to come, the first step in a much larger and more impressive journey. For that alone, it's easy to (somewhat cautiously) recommend.
Review of Mad Max
