Space Truckers

Director: Stuart Gordon
Screenwriters: Stuart Gordon, Ted Mann

Institute History

  • 1997 Sundance Film Festival

Description

From Stuart Gordon comes another brilliant genre-twisting expedition, this time into the realm of sci-fi. Space Truckers is an off-the-wall look at the future as seen by the common man. It’s 2196. Human beings have expanded their domain throughout the universe, but little else has changed. John Canyon (Dennis Hopper) is the last of a breed of independent truckers competing against the huge conglomerates which only worship the bottom line. When he is stiffed by The Company, he evens the score, which cataclysmically begins his escape down the intergalactic superhighway. Relying on his trusty rig and help from his girlfriend (Debi Mazar) and his eager companion, Mike Pucci (Stephen Dorff), he defies police, asteroid belts, and space pirates.

With references to films such as Star Wars and Alien, as well as Easy Rider and Convoy, Space Truckers is a homage to science fiction films and the American road movie. Gordon deftly handles the combination by drawing subtle performances from his actors as well as utilizing top-notch special effects. The result is an extremely clever take on a predictable genre.

— Trevor Groth

Screening Details

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