MOVIE QUICK REVIEW: SLIPSTREAM [1989]

I first came across this film just a week ago in my loo library, whilst browsing through the WH Smith Guide to Videos from the 1990's. My interest was piqued by the name Mark Hamill in the cast list, so I decided to give it a whirl on You Tube.

Basically, Slipstream is about a post-apocalyptic world in which the dominant feature is a tremendous wind [no jokes please!] blowing across the Earth's surface, which is the slipstream in the title. The story follows a grizzled bounty hunter turned cop [Hamill], his equally tough female assistant [Kitty Aldridge] and a dodgy peddler [Bill Paxton] who, along with a suited man [Bob Peck], is the film's central figure. Bob Peck has the most interesting character and in a windswept world seems completely out of place with his suit and suave accent. There is more to him than meets the eye but you'll have to watch the film to find out what. There are a few interesting planes and kites too.

Overall it reminded me of Waterworld mixed with something like Blade Runner -lite. Sadly, apart from the initial interest of seeing a new role for Mark Hamill back with his old Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz, I found the film boring. I can see why it flopped back in '89. Viewing format: You Tube and PC. Score: 3 out of 10.