HARDWARE

It is one of the most unusual post-apocalyptic films in cinema history, neatly combining an evocative vision of a post-nuclear future with a horror film inspired by Ridley Scott's ALIEN.

The plot revolves around a scrap collector who discovers the remains of a robot and brings them home to his girlfriend, an artist who creates sculptures from metal. Little does he know that the machine can repair itself, and once it does, it will set out to eliminate everyone in its path.

HARDWARE marks the feature-length debut of Richard Stanley, one of the forgotten visionaries of cinema from the late '80s to early '90s. While the storyline combines several well-known concepts, HARDWARE remains surprisingly original, primarily due to its striking visuals—appearing as if the film stock has been infused with radioactive substances—and its unique soundtrack, featuring the likes of Public Image Limited, Lemmy, and Iggy Pop. Additionally, it offers a one-of-a-kind vision of nuclear annihilation that later inspired the creators of the FALLOUT video game series.

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Grzegorz Fortuna