Hardware

About this episode

The episode reviews the cult film 'Hardware' by Richard Stanley, exploring its themes and legacy.

Released in 1990, Hardware is the abrasive feature debut of cult filmmaker Richard Stanley. Starring Stacey Travis as sculptor Jill and Dylan McDermott as desert drifter Mo, the film begins with a romantic gesture that – through the entirely avoidable gift of salvaged military hardware – turns into a claustrophobic battle with a self-repairing government robot determined to follow its programming to the letter. Emerging at the tail end of the VHS-era cyberpunk boom and somewhere in the industrial-grime lineage between The Terminator and Mad Max 2 , Stanley’s film quickly carved out a reputation as a cult object: equal parts grimy dystopian satire and mechanical slasher movie. But is this often hard-to-find rusty curio a gem that deserves to be given pride of place in your lounge, or is it best left in the desert? Find out! Support us on Patreon to nominate films for us to cover, access exclusive bonus content, and vote on the final verdict! Rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice, and tell a friend about us. Follow us on TikTok , YouTube , Instagram and Bluesky . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Conrad Chambers, Daniel Goh

Topics covered

• cyberpunk
• film review
• cult cinema
• dystopian satire
• robot horror

Keywords

• Hardware
• Richard Stanley
• cyberpunk
• cult film
• robot
• dystopia
• film review

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Hardware, The Terminator, Mad Max 2

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