Review: Mad Max (1979)

In the not-too distant future, in a time of near societal collapse, police office Max Rockatansky is working the highways of Australia. He and his fellow officers are in pursuit of cop killer, ‘Nightrider’ Montazano, who is speeding down the roads with his girlfriend in tow, causing destruction and devastation wherever they go.

Although ‘Nightrider’ alludes capture to begin with, his reign of terror is soon brought to an end. Max manages to steer ‘Nightrider’s’ car into a roadblock killing him and his girlfriend in an instant. 

With ‘Nightrider’ dead, his depraved biker gang – led by the despicable Toecutter – vow revenge on the police, including Max and his partner, Goose. This revenge is soon enacted on Goose, who suffers a devastating fate.

Fearing for his own safety, as well as the safety of his wife and child, Max hands in his resignation and takes his family away on vacation. However, it’s not long before Max crosses paths with Toecutter and his goons, leading to further tragedy.

Directed and co-written by George Miller, Mad Max is a dystopian action movie, built around a story of revenge. The film stars Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, and Sheila Florence, and is the first entry in the long-running and critically acclaimed Mad Max movie series. 

In my opinion it is also one of the best films in the series. Although to be fair, the hit rate of the Mad Max films is extremely high, so they are all bloody good in their own way.

But the reason this one stands out, and is certainly one of my favourites, is because it is fairly different to the others. After this movie, every entry in the series takes on a certain setting and aesthetic – a recognisable ‘Mad Max look’ if you will – but that’s not quite the case here.

Every Mad Max film following this one is firmly set in a post apocalyptic world. Mad Max is on the precipice of the apocalypse, but it still has one foot in the 1970s, and this makes for relatable and compelling viewing.

Mad Max exists on the cusp of the collapse of society. We’re not there just yet, but the end is nigh, and chaos is nipping at the world’s heels.

Attempting to cling onto his own little piece of humanity is Max, who is a good officer, a devoted husband and father, and a seemingly stand-up guy. However, the events of the movie put him through the wringer and over the course of the film’s 90(ish)-minute runtime, his humanity is chipped away entirely.

It doesn’t happen straight away, and the most significant thing to happen to Max (the famous thing, which I won’t spoil here) doesn’t occur until the backend of the movie, but it takes place in this picture. By the end of the film Max’s life is forever changed, the darkness of the world overtakes him, and there’s no going back.

As such, Mad Max charts the downfall of a hero, while exploring the downfall of the world. The result is something which is fascinating to watch and expertly handled, and best of all, the film builds and builds and builds.

Sure, Mad Max is rough around the edges and a little chaotic to begin with, but once the film finds its footing it hits all the right notes. It also showcases some superb stunt work too.

One of the great strengths of the movie is the motor vehicle stunts, which are exhilarating and frenetic. These are real stunts, with real people, and pulled off on a shoestring budget.

Back during the late 1970s, when the film was in production, there was no CGI to help create the stunts, and this film had very little money, so it was all done in camera. As a result, it’s fast-paced and dangerous, and this gives the movie a real edge.

The vehicles also play a major part in the story. In a world which is crumbling, and when humanity is becoming distant, having a car or a motorcycle to get around suddenly becomes very important.

Finding a way to incorporate transport into the film, and ensure it plays a significant part in the movie’s spectacle is genius. Mad Max isn’t just a film that includes a few cars for a quick bit of action, the use of transport is embedded into the story, and this in turn ensures the stunts feel like a natural extension of this world.

Although the Mad Max series would go onto bigger things, and would become shaped more by its sequels than the original, this first film is a real doozy. Even decades on from its original release it still feels like something fresh and different to other action movies of its era, and it is a film where you can see the potential in every scene.

Mad Max is raw, visceral, and imaginative. It’s not always comfortable viewing, but its hardest moments provoke a reaction and create strong foundations for what would follow.

Should you wish to watch Mad Max, the movie is widely available on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K, and digital.

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Reviewer/Mad Alex

Alex Wiggan

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