Mad Max (1979)

The dystopian action film, Mad Max (1979), was directed by George Miller and produced by Byron Kennedy. Set in a near-future Australia facing a breakdown of civil order, caused by widespread oil shortages and ecocide, the film follows the story of Max Rockatansky. As a member of the poorly-funded Main Force Patrol (MFP), Max witnesses the death of a rookie officer at the hands of berserk motorbike gang member Crawford ‘Nightrider’ Montazano. Nightrider escapes with his girlfriend in the dead officer’s Pursuit Special, successfully eluding the MFP until Max manages to steer him into a roadblock. Unfortunately, this results in a fiery crash that claims the lives of both Nightrider and his girlfriend. Later on, at the MFP garage, Max is presented with his new police car: a specially-built V8-powered and supercharged black Pursuit Special.

A conversation between Max’s superior Captain Fred ‘Fifi’ Macaffee and Police commissioner Labatouche reveals that this vehicle was authorized as an attempt to bribe Max into staying on the force since he has been growing weary of police work. Nightrider’s biker gang, led by Toecutter and Bubba Zanetti, wreak havoc in a town by vandalising property, stealing fuel, and terrorising the residents. During their rampage, a young couple tries to flee but the gang destroys their vehicle and attacks them. At the scene, Max and his partner Jim ‘Goose’ Rains apprehend Toecutter’s apprentice Johnny the Boy. However, due to lack of witnesses at trial, Johnny is found mentally incapable of standing trial.