In the then-future of 1990, Anne (Stefania Girolami), a young heiress, flees her corporate regents.
Seeking a new life, she escapes into the Bronx, which has become a semi-autonomous region run by multiple gangs.
Falling in with Trash (Mark Gregory), a young gang leader, Anne finds herself in the middle of a gang war.
Meanwhile, the corporation deploys a mercenary (Vic Morrow) to re-capture Anne by any means necessary...
The Warriors and Escape from New York were part of the trend of genre flicks to be inspired by New York’s financial and social struggles of the mid-seventies. While it is technically an Italian ripoff, 1990: The Bronx Warriors benefits from location shooting in New York City.
It also benefits from a cynicism about corporate power, and how it is used to manipulate the poor people it exploits. A lot of my favourite Italian genre movies are based around unpicking American mythology, and while this movie does not spend a lot of time on its themes, that cynicism is explicitly part of the text.
I have seen better Italian genre fare, but this one is fun in terms of the components: the locations, the set pieces and the gangs.
Lead performer Mark Gregory is bland, imported American star Vic Morrow is collecting a check, the main plot never builds steam, but when you have a drummer doing a live solo in the middle of a gang gathering, it does not matter.
The movie is a collection of set pieces and a catwalk for various styles of gangs - if your favourite gang from The Warriors was the roller-skating guys, you will love the Broadway dance troupe.
Director Enzo G. Castellari covers the action effectively, and has a good eye for locations. The outdoor location work lends the movie a scope and sense of verisimilitude that adds to the movie's cartoonish vibe.
It may never rise above its influences, but 1990 - The Bronx Warriors is good fun.
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