DVD Corner

2020 Texas Gladiators 4K UHD Review

“2020 Texas Gladiators” is pure 80’s cheese. 

Written by George Eastman, 1983’s “2020 Texas Gladiators” is an Italian sci-fi action flick that takes place in a lawless, violent and dangerous post atomic war world. The film kicks off with the heroic 5 Rangers fighting a crazed gang attacking a church. One of the Rangers named Catch Dog tries to rape a woman (Maida), but Ranger Nexus saves her life. Catch Dog is thrown out of the Rangers for his abhorrent behavior while Nexus and Maida venture off together to Free Town. 

The story jumps ahead in time where Nexus and Maida have a child and are living comfortably in Free Town and operating a nuclear power plant. They are attempting to live normally, but that peace is short-lived when the totalitarian regime led by Black One and their biker gang minions (including Catch Dog) take over the town. It’s up to the 3 remaining Rangers to save the day along with some potential allies. 

Perhaps best known for being shown on the Joe Bob Briggs series “Monstervision,” “2020 Texas Gladiators” can best be described as a cross between “Max Max,” “The Warriors,” and “The Magnificent Seven.” There’s even a random “The Deer Hunter” rip-off thrown in (don’t ask). Essentially, it’s one big hodgepodge of whatever was hot around that time. There’s barely a plot holding the movie together and there’s even less characterization and yet this is the type of cheeseball 80’s film that you can’t help but get wrapped up in. It’s a straight-up trashy Joe D’Amato film filled with violence, nudity, shootouts, motorcycle gangs, explosions, a rock avalanche, death, and mayhem. It’s a weird, turn your brain off cult movie through and through.

There aren’t any big names present here, but cult movie star Peter Hooten (Halakron) and Sabrina Siani (Maida) give the film’s best performances. Hal Yamanouchi also shines as the silent but deadly Ranger Red Wolfe.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 2160p. How does it look? Fans can expect a pristine new print scanned in 4K from the original negative.

Audio Track: English and Italian Mono. How does it sound? These tracks are quite active for Mono tracks. You can’t ask for better picture and sound quality for an exploitation film like this. 

Extras:
* “2020 Texas Gladiators” trailer (on the 4K and Blu-ray).
* CD soundtrack by Carlo Maria Cordio
* Blu-ray copy
* Lobby card
* “Gladiator Geretta”- A 10 ½ minute interview with American actress Geretta Geretta who talks about her experience in working on an Italian production.
* “Shoot Me: The Real Story of The Italian Texas Gladiators”- 17 minutes of archival interviews with director Joe D’Amato, assistant director Michele Soavi (who went on to become a director), writer Luigi Montefiori and actor Al Cliver.

November 30, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | 2020 Texas Gladiators 4K UHD Review, 80's Movie, Italian Movie, Monstervision, Post-Apocalypse Movie, Sci-fi, Severin