M.A.R.K. 13

One of my favorite films, of all time, regardless of genre and content, is a little beauty we call Hardware. The film was directed by Richard Stanley way back in 1989, and tells the story of a robot and a handful of humans. The robot tries to kill the humans, and vice versa. It sounds familiar, but this is not Terminator. While I love Terminator (the first one, and none of the sequels) Hardware is darker, dirtier, more violent, more aesthetically filmed and twice as arty. Not to mention filled with goth and industrial subculture references.

The film is based on, or atleast inspired by, a short story printed in the british comic book 2000 AD. The story titled Shok! is a spin off from Judge Dredd and concerns a combat robot that runs amock in an urban appartment. This particular robot is a souvenir from a combat between Dredd (with allies) and a large group of combat robots from World War III featured in the storyline the Cursed Earth. Dredd won of course. Like many other stories in 2000 AD. this one is very sketchy and focuses more on morbid humor, with a touch of social critique, than on artistic skills.

The film opens up with a full close up of a womans face, and flashing lights, before we see a bleak desert landscape, filmen with red filter, and even more bleak music by Simon Boswell. A lone figure, clad in post apocalyptic cowboy gear and gasmask uncovers the remains of a robot under the sand. This character, the Zone Tripper, is incidentally played by Carl McCoy from Fields of the Nephilim, one of that bands Richard Stanley had worked with during his carreer making music videos. The Zone Tripper brings the robot parts back to civilization, and sells them to a soldier named Mo. Mo in turn gives them as a christmas present to his girlfriend, the artist Jill (whose face opened the film). She uses the robots head (now painted to resemble an american flag) as the center piece in one of her artworks, and unwittingly allows it to rebuild itself. The rest of the film is mainly artsy mayhem and slaughter with a great deal of hinduistic and christian subtext. Specifically the name of the robot (M.A.R.K. 13) and images of the hindu goddess Kali, whose visage incidentally is reminiscent of the robot itself.

It sounds simple, but in fact the story is suprisingly complex. Especially considering the low budget it was made on, and the rather limited technical possibilities at the time. It's expertly filmed, and the set dressing is impressive. The television screen plays a significant role in the film, displaying scenes of torture, executions and so forth (the footage was supplied by Genesis P-Orridge by the way.) Everything is very ugly, and all the machines look broken down and used. The dressing and design really creates a world you don't want to live in. But one of the elements that really makes the film what it is, is the music. Ministry, Iggy Pop, Public Image Limited, Mötorhead, a piece by Rossini and Boswells aforementioned fantastic score. The way Boswell manages to utilize synthesizer, strings and steel guitar is truly unique. It's violent, cynical and very gritty.

Sadly the film was unavailable for quite a few years and it's only recently been released on DVD. It was worth the waith though. The DVD release also includes the original comic and a few extra scenes. Not to mention the audio commentary.

The film ends on a very pessimistic note. Jill manages to kill the robot, but Mo is killed, along with several other characters. In the very end we find out that mass production of the killer robot is about to be implemented. The robot was just a prototype, and production was halted because of problems with insulation system. However, the radio announces, problems have been sorted out. However, the fact that the robot is unable to tell the difference between enemies and friends seems less interesting. No Flesh Shall be Spared, indeed.

One interesting detail from the film that I have to mention, because it sets it apart from other cyberpunkish apocalypses is the way the robot is killed. In Terminator the robot is stopped by smashing it with a gigantic compacter. Technology to defeat technology. In this film Jill kills the robot by showering it with water, and then beating it to smitherines with a wooden baseball bat. She defeats the machine using very basic, primitive tools - and indeed nature itself. Cool huh?

All in all, it's a magnificent film, and if you haven't seen it yet it's about time. Open your eyes and your ears, and allow the film to seep into every corner of your mind.