Hardware (1990): Totally Underrated Cyberpunk Grindhouse!

Okay, so I just re-watched Hardware last night (yeah, I know, I'm late to the party for some of you) and wow. Like, seriously WOW. I knew it was supposed to be a low-budget cyberpunk flick, but I was not prepared for the sheer visual style of it all. It's grungy, it's grimy, it's got that Judge Dredd comic book vibe cranked up to eleven, but with its own distinct feel. I mean, the whole 'Mark 13 head in a bag' thing is so simple, but so effectively creepy. Plus, the fact that it rebuilds itself using scavenged parts? Pure genius! I love practical effects and this movie is full of them, which immediately gets points from me. Especially the gore, that scene where it's walking around with the glowing eyes... nightmare fuel. I think what really gets me about Hardware is the world-building, even if it's subtle. You don't get a ton of exposition, but you get snippets of a post-apocalyptic, resource-scarce future through the set design and the characters themselves. The whole Nomadic desert preacher angle is super intriguing too, and it addds a different dimension to the storyline. And Stacey Travis as Jill? Hardcore! She's not the damsel in distress type AT ALL. She actually fights back and is resourceful. She's got kind of an 80s punk vibe too that works really well. For a movie made on what probably amounted to pocket change, it's astonishing how much atmosphere they managed to create. It's not perfect by any means – some of the acting is a little wooden, and the plot is pretty straightforward -- but the visuals and the sheer unrelenting bleakness of everything just stick with you. I'd recommend it for fans of Tetsuo: The Iron Man or even Eraserhead (though it's way more action-oriented than either of those). Anyone else a Hardware fan? What are your favorite moments? I'm curious to hear your thoughts!