Richard Stanley wrote and directed the script for the British science fiction movie called Hardware. There were some noted cameo roles from Rock Stars of the time. Three of them being Iggy Pop as the radio presenter and the strange desert traveler who finds the robot parts played by Carl McCoy of Fields of the Nephilim rock band. Then there was Lemmy of Motörhead and Hawkwind fame.
The two main stars were Dylan McDermott and Stacey Travis. American actors who gave the movie a broader range of audience appeal.
The desert wanderer has unknowingly found parts for a self-repairing robot. It is some form of military hardware and once it repairs its self after being sold to an out of work creative artist, the diabolical machine goes on a killing spree. The original version had a number of grisly murders in it. However, it was edited before release and many of the more gruesome scenes were omitted.
It has since become a cult movie but it did cause a great deal of controversy when the British comic group 2000 AD saw the film. There was a court case of plagiarism issued and by Fleetway comics because it was from a short story called SHOCK! It was in the 1981 Judge Dredd Annual. The case was successful and certain monies had to be paid and on-screen credits to the story of SHOK! are included in screening, etc.
The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future and was made on a budget of £950,000 and grossed in excess of 5.2 million at the box office. Some of the close camera work and lighting gave the film some good authenticity.
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