Plot: A corporation harbors (and fears) the psychopathic creator of the war technology that makes them influential. Soon, the "rumors" of their ethically perverted approach to warfare soon run rampant within their own walls.
"Death Machine" is definitely ambitious with its bleak sci-fi setting, horror overtures, tongue-in-cheek dark humor, effects heavy approach, and bleak psuedo-cyberpunk vibes, all conjured up on a small 6 million dollar budget. Alas, it is also a tad overlong, rough around the edges, and maybe not as clever as it should be. Its major saving grace (and caveat) is that it basically plays like glorified fan fiction. To its credit, it wears its influences unabashedly on its sleeve. From Robocop to Universal Soldier to films the director worked on as an effects artist (most notably Aliens from which it liberally cribs). Ultimately, it proves to be the type of flick that movie nerds can partake of if only to feel as vicariously indulgent as the director did while making it. Its cornball self-awareness will most likely ingratiate those who aren't turned off by the inherent b-movie vibes at the outset and hold on for the ride. Though ambitious it never aims higher than its culty style and, for better or worse, that's exactly what it achieves. Cult film if there ever was one.
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