The New Barbarians (1983) **1/2

Enzo G. Castellari's ultra-cheapo post-apocalyptic actioner The New Barbarians (aka Warriors Of The Wasteland) (1983) is another in a long line of Italian Mad Max 2 (1981) (review) rip-offs. It's got Fred "The Hammer" Williamson blowing up omnicidal baddies with a crossbow, weirdo child actor Giovanni Frezza (who's usually annoying, but here playing a mechanic who kills dudes with a slingshot), a healthy heaping of beheadings, guns that literally go "pew pew", ridiculous costumes, and a groovy Italo disco score by Goblin member Claudio Simonetti. That might all sound cool (and some of it is), and while the film is definitely entertaining schlock, it's underwhelming overall. Side note: why is every dystopian sci-fi movie set in 2019?

Recommended for fans of 1990: Bronx Warriors (1982), 2019: After The Fall Of New York (1983) (review), and Raiders Of Atlantis (1983).

Enzo G. Castellari Films Ranked