Turkey Shoot Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

In a future where being a ‘deviant’ is illegal, the punishment is getting sent to a prison camp where the wardens and their wealthy friends literally hunt you for sport, sometimes with a helpful werewolf.

🍿 Turkey Shoot: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Dystopian Future and the ‘Re-Education’ Camp

Set in a grim near-future Australia, ‘Turkey Shoot’ depicts a totalitarian society where ‘deviants’ and non-conformists are sent to brutal prison camps for ‘re-education’. The film introduces new inmates, including Paul Anders, a freedom fighter, and Chris Walters, arrested unjustly. The camp, run by the sadistic Charles Thatcher, enforces strict obedience through violence and humiliation. Prisoners face constant brutality from guards like Chief Guard Ritter, highlighting the oppressive nature of the regime and the horrific conditions within the facility.

The Selection for the ‘Turkey Shoot’ Game

To entertain himself and his elite guests, Thatcher organizes a ‘Turkey Shoot’. This deadly game involves selecting a small group of prisoners, giving them a head start in the surrounding wilderness, and then hunting them for sport. Paul, Chris, and several other inmates are chosen for this horrific ordeal. Their supposed chance at freedom hinges on surviving the hunt until dawn, facing off against Thatcher, his guards, and his equally depraved guests armed with various deadly weapons.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Paul Anders (Steve Railsback): The resourceful freedom fighter and escape artist determined to survive the brutal prison camp and the deadly hunt.
• Chris Walters (Olivia Hussey): An innocent prisoner caught up in the system who must fight for survival when chosen as prey in the hunt.
• Charles Thatcher (Michael Craig): The cruel and sadistic head of the re-education camp who organizes the human hunts for sport.
• Chief Guard Ritter (Roger Ward): The brutal and physically imposing chief guard who enforces order through violence and participates in the hunt.
• Jennifer (Carmen Duncan): A wealthy and sadistic hunter who uses a crossbow to pursue prisoners during the turkey shoot.
• Rita Daniels (Lynda Stoner): A prisoner labeled a ‘deviant’ who joins the others trying to survive the brutal conditions and the hunt.
• Tito (Michael Petrovitch): One of the privileged hunters who utilizes a unique, monstrous ‘pet’ to track and kill prisoners.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Charles Thatcher: “Freedom is obedience, obedience is work, work is life. Disobedience is treason, treason is a crime, crime will be punished!” – Thatcher delivers the camp’s chilling motto and his philosophy on punishment to the new prisoners.
• Chief Guard Ritter: “When they say jump, you say frog!” – Ritter shouts this nonsensical command to assert his authority and humiliate prisoners during inspections.

💰Box Office

• Budget: A$2,500,000
• Domestic Gross: $1,414,828
• Worldwide Gross: $1,414,828

💥 Turkey Shoot Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into Turkey Shoot expecting some cheesy ’80s action, and boy, did it deliver! The whole dystopian prison camp thing was just the appetizer for the main course: people getting hunted for sport. It’s so gloriously over-the-top and violent, I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the gore. The characters are pretty simple, but the villains are wonderfully evil, especially the chief guard. And yes, there’s a werewolf in a dune buggy. It makes absolutely no sense, and I loved every ridiculous minute of it. This movie is pure, unadulterated exploitation fun. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you appreciate trashy cult cinema that holds nothing back, give it a shot. You won’t be bored, I promise.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of exploitation films”
  • “Viewers interested in Ozploitation cinema”
  • “Those who enjoy ‘The Most Dangerous Game’ variations”
  • “Fans of dystopian action and horror”
  • “Viewers who appreciate campy and over-the-top violence”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic Violence and Gore (including dismemberment, shootings, impalement)”
  • “Brutality and Torture”
  • “Attempted Rape (implied/depicted in original cuts)”
  • “Partial Nudity (female full frontal)”
  • “Disturbing Themes (totalitarianism, human hunting, sadism)”

Professional Reviews

• Cult Cinema Quarterly: “Turkey Shoot is a wild, over-the-top ride that delivers exactly what it promises: gratuitous violence, ample nudity, and a healthy dose of camp. It takes the ‘Most Dangerous Game’ premise and injects it with pure Ozploitation energy. While the plot is thin and logic often abandoned, the relentless pacing and memorable moments, like a certain werewolf, make for a truly entertaining experience for fans of trash cinema.
• Midnight Madness Reviews: “Forget high art; Turkey Shoot is pure grindhouse glory. It’s a non-stop assault of sadism in a poorly conceived dystopian future. The acting ranges from surprisingly effective (Ward’s Chief Guard is a highlight) to utterly bewildered (sorry, Olivia Hussey). It’s gory, offensive, and frequently hilarious, often unintentionally. A must-see for adventurous viewers seeking the outer limits of exploitation.
• The Exploitation Enthusiast: “Brian Trenchard-Smith brings his signature flair to this notorious ‘video nasty’. The ‘re-education’ camp setup is just an excuse for the main event: a chaotic, bloody hunt across the Australian landscape. While some effects are crude, others land with shocking impact. It’s a film that embraces its absurdity, featuring exploding arrows and bulldozer mishaps. A fun, trashy spectacle that’s far from boring.

Audience Reactions

The outrageous gore and absurd moments, like the werewolf hunter, were unexpected and hilarious.: Many viewers praised the film’s fast pace, cheesy entertainment value, and memorable villains.

Overall Consensus: Turkey Shoot is widely regarded as a classic piece of Australian exploitation cinema, celebrated for its excessive violence, campy tone, and cult status despite its many flaws.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Olivia Hussey reportedly almost accidentally cut off Roger Ward’s hands during a scene due to a miscommunication about when the director yelled ‘cut’.”
• “The film’s production schedule was severely cut from 44 days to just 28 days shortly before filming began, forcing rapid adjustments.”
• “Executive producer David Hemmings stepped in to direct second unit photography to help the film meet its shortened schedule after a major investor pulled out.”
• “Many actors on the film reportedly disliked the subject matter and filming conditions, contributing to some on-screen tension.”
• “Quentin Tarantino has expressed admiration for the film and director Brian Trenchard-Smith, even including a ‘Special Thanks’ to him in ‘Death Proof’ (2007).”

🖥️ How to Watch Turkey Shoot?

Looking to watch the cult Ozploitation film ‘Turkey Shoot’? This dystopian action-thriller, also known as ‘Escape 2000’ or ‘Blood Camp Thatcher’, can be hard to find on major subscription streaming services in some regions. However, it is often available for rent or purchase digitally through platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Physical media like DVD and Blu-ray releases are also common, particularly for uncut or special edition versions sought after by fans of exploitation cinema. Always check current availability on your preferred digital storefront or physical media retailer for the best options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Turkey Shoot, you might like these similar films:

• The Most Dangerous Game (1932): Provides the foundational premise of humans hunting humans for sport, which ‘Turkey Shoot’ heavily adapts into a futuristic setting.
• The Running Man (1987): Features a similar dystopian future where convicted individuals are forced to participate in a televised deadly game for the entertainment of the masses.
• Battle Royale (2000): Explores the thematic concept of individuals being forced to kill each other in a brutal survival game orchestrated by a controlling authority, albeit with a different focus.
• Dead End Drive-In (1986): Directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith, this film also features a dystopian Australia and focuses on societal outcasts trapped in a controlled environment, sharing the director’s distinct cult sensibility.
• Mad Max (1979): A pioneering film of Australian dystopian action cinema (‘Ozploitation’), sharing a similar rugged aesthetic and themes of societal breakdown and survival.
• The Hunger Games (2012): A popular modern adaptation of the human-hunt premise set within a futuristic, oppressive society, offering a more mainstream take on the core concepts.

🛒 Turkey Shoot Related Products

• Turkey Shoot (Escape 2000 / Blood Camp Thatcher) Uncut Blu-ray: Experience the film in its most complete and notorious version with this uncut high-definition transfer.
• Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!: A comprehensive guide and documentary exploring the history of Australian exploitation cinema, featuring Turkey Shoot and interviews with its director.
• Dystopian Survival Game (PC/Console): Immerse yourself in a harsh, futuristic world where survival is key and enemies lurk around every corner.
• Turkey Shoot / Escape 2000 Movie Poster Print: High-quality print of the iconic, striking poster artwork for the film’s various releases.

🎧 Soundtrack

Turkey Shoot features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Brian May
• “Camp 47” – performed by Brian May
• “The Turkey Shoot Begins” – performed by Brian May
• “The Hunted” – performed by Brian May
• “Assault on Camp 47” – performed by Brian May

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

It’s Like Battle Royale in The Outback!

Ever heard of ‘Turkey Shoot’? This review perfectly captures why this wild Ozploitation flick is basically ‘Battle Royale’ set in the harsh Australian outback – trust me, it’s as bonkers as it sounds and this breakdown is super helpful!

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