Most people of a certain age will remember the character Max Headroom, some from his chat show, some from his hour long sci-fi adventure show, some from his iconic Coke adverts and some from his pop video cameos, but few seem to recall the cutting edge standalone drama that introduced him in 1986, Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into The Future. Set in a dystopian future where the bulk of the population live in extreme, post apocalyptic poverty while the world is dominated by rival mega-corporation broadcasters who fight tooth and claw for ratings dominance, it follows ace reporter Edison Carter who uncovers a conspiracy at his employers Network 23 to use a revolutionary, and deadly, form of advertising.
Max Headroom is a great piece of social commentary exploring where unrestrained capitalism is heading and the dire effects on society as a whole, it highlights conflicts of interests between news broadcasters and their corporate owners, it raises moral questions about duplicating real people as CGI reproductions, as well as satirizing an increasingly obese population who are too glued to their consoles and TV screens to save themselves from their own unhealthiness.
Imaginatively directed by Annabel Jankel & Rocky Morton, this is a visually dynamic piece of experimental film making from the cyberpunk design, arty editing, high-tech wire-frame computer animation and decaying, Blade Runner inspired designs. It's bleak mise-en-scene is accompanied by a blackly humorous script and a fantastic Midge Ure synth score.
The casting is icing on the cake. Matt Frewer has the range to play both reckless hero Edison as well as his CGI alter ego Max, Nicholas Grace perfects the bulging eyed maniacal schemer he perfected in Robin Of Sherwood, George Rossi and Hilton McRea are great as two immoral oddjob men and William Morgan Sheppard has rarely been more entertaining as the clueless but ambitious Reg. The highlight of the casting is Amanda Payes as Frewers partner; English posh totty has rarely possessed a form that was more cluster spooge inducing.
The offshoots of this hour long enterprise may very well have entered into popular culture as an immovable, fixed point in time defining the 1980's, but it's this outstanding piece of drama that should not be forgotten.
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