''Stryker'' is a Philippine action film directed by Cirio H. Santiago. The film is set in the future where after a

nuclear holocaust A nuclear holocaust, also known as a nuclear apocalypse, nuclear annihilation, nuclear armageddon, or atomic holocaust, is a Futures studies, theoretical scenario where the mass detonation of nuclear weapons causes widespread destruction and radi ...

, survivors battle each other over the remaining water in the world.

Plot

After nuclear war has defoliated the Earth, the survivors live in colonies in an endless quest for drinkable water. A young woman named Delha is on the run from the evil warlord Kardis and his henchman. She is rescued by Stryker and his young companion Bandit. She later finds herself trapped again by Kardis and resists torture to reveal the location of her colony. Meanwhile, Stryker and Bandit ambush a Kardis water tanker, drive it to his fortress, and manage to escape with Delha. Delha reveals that she has been trying to contact Trun, Stryker's estranged brother, to assist in the defence against Kardis. Trun has been captured and buried by Kardis' men, but is rescued by Stryker. Trun has his lieutenant Bazil to gather his army, but Bazil suddenly betrays them, leading Kardis to attack the colony. Stryker is then captured and tortured, but is rescued by a group of dwarves to whom he had previously given precious water. After a final climactic battle, Trun's battalion defeats Kardis' army with help of Stryker and the dwarves.

Reception

The ''

Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' gave the film a negative review:

"Workaday, predictable, edited to the bone, ''Stryker'' is very much a
New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...
yarn. It cruises on automatic pilot from the first frame to the last."

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' described the film as a:

"Grade-D imitation of "
The Road Warrior ''Mad Max 2'' (released as ''The Road Warrior'' in the United States) is a 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic dystopian action film directed by George Miller, who co-wrote it with Terry Hayes and Brian Hannant. It is the second installment in ...
...'Stryker' offers little for today's action audience."

The ''Pittsburgh Press'' called the film "revolting in every way." The review described Howard R. Cohen's script as "insane" and leading man

Steve Sandor Steve Sandor (October 27, 1937 – April 5, 2017) was an American actor who made his first television appearance on ''Star Trek'', playing Lars in the second season episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion". Formative years Born in Pittsburgh, Penn ...

as "ugly", as well as a "combination imitation of

Indiana Jones ''Indiana Jones'' is an American media franchise consisting of five films and a prequel television series, along with games, comics, and tie-in novels, that depicts the adventures of Indiana Jones (character), Dr. Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, ...

and

Mad Max ''Mad Max'' is an Australian media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. It centres on a series of post-apocalyptic and dystopian action films. The franchise began in 1979 with '' Mad Max'', and was followed by three sequels: ...

", and that director Santiago's shots "rarely match, making for sloppy editing and enervating tedium". In Phil Hardy's book ''Science Fiction'' (1984), a review compared to other ''Mad Max'' derivatives, noting it was "even more ridiculous than its Italian competitor '' I Nuovi Barbari'' (1983)", lamenting lamented that director Santiago "used to turn out at least halfway decent movies for

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (April 5, 1926 – May 9, 2024) was an American film director, producer, and actor. Known under various monikers such as "The Pope of Pop Cinema", "The Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood", and "The King of Cult", he w ...

's New World from his Filipino base including ''

Fly Me ''Fly Me'' is a 1973 exploitation film directed by Cirio H. Santiago and produced by Roger Corman. The story concerns flight attendants, international drug smuggling, kung fu, and nudity. It was poorly received by critics. Plot Toby, Andrea ...

'', '' Savage!'' (both 1973), '' TNT Jackson'' (1975) and the like."

References

Footnotes

Sources

* *

External links