Film Review: Mad Max Fury Road - Exploitation Film

(Fig 1: Movie Still)

Exploitation movies are usually low budget and low effort in order to keep pumping them out for easy profit. These movies usually take formulas from other genre movies and use excessive violence, sex and drugs, giving the audience what they want and can't get in other films. However, this has made it know for how poor its cinematography, cardboard characters and limited character development as well as arcs. Despite this 'Mad Max: Fury Road', born from a the previous films that were a part of the exploitation film genre, has taken exploitation film and renewed it for the better. 

(Fig 2: Movie Still)

The films plot stems from the 'Women in Prison' sub genre of exploitation films which started around the 1900s. In the film the antagonist, Immortal Joe has 'prize breeders' (or wives) that have escaped from the prison immortal Joe created with the help of Furiosa. The film manages to take such a controversial topic and make it feminist. Firstly, the wives aren't saved by a 'knight in shining armour' but by a strong figure such as Furiosa. Secondly, over the course of the film we see as the wives are transformed from prisoners to the hero's that bring a new beginning to the wasteland. Lastly, these characters are important in aiding the protagonists as well as expressing individuality and their own goals. 

All the previous mad max movies are a part of another sub-genre of exploitation film, Ozploitation.
Miller created a franchise out of this sub-genre known for it violence and chaos which kept increasing with each new release. However, with 'Fury Road' Miller does not conform to the stereotypes of the genre, he demonstrates great cinematography and uses practical effects paired with CGI, without losing the realness that we see in the original films. 

Lastly, the plot is very simple but also very gripping. The plot essentially consists of trying to get to a safe haven while also being chased by the antagonist, getting there finding out it no longer exists and then returning to the start so that the protagonists can gain more power than they had when the film began. Although, simple the events along the way are what keep us watching.

In conclusion, the film while having its roots in the exploitation genre of film, it manages to take the past and use it to its advantage, as well as being more than just any modern blockbuster.

Illustration List:

Fig 1: http://cinemayward.com/review/mad-max-fury-road/

fig 2: http://www.otherworldsaustin.com/blog/2015/8/7/think-mad-max-fury-road-is-a-great-film-youre-wrong-heres-why