New Release: Cult Classic Sci-Fi Comedy Oblivion on Shout! Factory DVD

There’s an obvious reason that this movie is being released and it’s found in the tagline along the top of the DVD – “In the year 3031… It’s Cowboys and Aliens“. Yes, while I’m imagining (hoping) that Jon Favreau‘s new film will be the superior product, the concept of spurs versus saucers has been done before, except in a slightly different venue: the future. In Oblivion (the name of the barren “old west” town), the aliens aren’t a mystery to the cowboys. They’re cowboys as well. And that leads to gun-toting action, comedy, and a lot of tasty cheese.

Made in 1994 and starring a who’s-who of geek casting: Andrew Divoff (Wishmaster), Julie Newmar (Batman), Carel Struycken (Addams Family), and George Takei (Star Trek), this film was not surprising released directly to VHS rather than hitting theaters (not counting the festival circuit), possibly due to the low production values.

My most pleasant surprise at discovering this film after all these years was to find that it was written by comic legend Peter David (X-Factor, Incredible Hulk). You can see his trademark humor all over it and it contains some classic lines (“I don’t want to hurt anyone, but you happen to be standing right where my gun’s about to go off.”). And the funeral/bingo game is especially funny. The film is fun, even if it takes a little bit to gain traction and most of the joy is found in the actors chewing the scenery and delivering their lines in inexplicably odd ways.

Unfortunately, this DVD doesn’t include any bonus material, so it seems there isn’t much more to be said about the movie by the creators and cast than what’s featured in the film itself. It’s a shame, because I think there are a number of things I’d love to learn about how and why this movie got made. I think it’s a story that might need to be told.

Get Oblivion now directly from Shout! Factory.

It’s also available in stores now!