MovieChat Forums > Mad Max 2 (1982) Discussion > "Just walk away..."

"Just walk away..."

posted 8 years ago by danwachsman
6 replies | jump to latest

At the 34+ min. mark, Max returns the (now) dead body of the compounder who he attempted to rescue (along with the victim's wife/GF), The Humongous & Co. roll up on the compound. Humongous declares that if they "Just walk away" and leave him "that fat tank of gas," he will spare them their lives. It may seem a hollow promise, but keeping in mind the insubordination (even rivalry) with Wez in his crew along with the audible dissatisfaction within the compound dwellers, one wonders if in fact Humongous may not have been offering a compromise. His forces, while stronger than theirs, are not totally expendable (it is the post-apocalypse and all), and they stand to lose at least some of their own by launching an attack on the remains of the compound.

One of the strengths of this film, and what distinguishes it from a run-of-the-mill blast & chase flick, is the tension revealed on both sides of this struggle. A resource surrender followed by instant slaughter may be a foregone conclusion at first glance, but given the struggle that existence has become for leadership and members alike for both sides, might Humongous's offer carry a bit more weight upon greater introspection?

More generally, what are we the audience to make of that implication- what do we do in our own life when we're faced with a more vicious and superior force? Do we give up and hope the antagonists have some shred of dignity lurking beneath the savage exterior? Or do we fight to the last, knowing they'll probably just get what they demand anyway?

And finally, what if we were to somehow find ourselves in the role of Humongous, stalking the remains of the world, forcing our desires upon the weak and scared. Do we allow any shred of remorse to shine through, allow them to "Just walk away," or do we unmercifully crush our victims, our own innocence cast upon the wind, blending with the ashes of their remains into the sun-drenched horizon...

What do you think?

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

A very interesting introspection. Humungus barely controls his army; Wez obviously has closer loyalty from a certain faction. Humungus leads by strength, and if he can't impose his will on a ragtag bunch of ex-refinery-employees, he would almost certainly have come under attack from his own dissatisfied forces.

I think the refinery folks could have waited them out; after all, without the gazoline from the refinery, how much further could Humungus' army have gotten? They were making sallies and shows every day, each of which used up that much more fuel. Unless they were making progress towards getting into the refinery, I'm pretty sure that the Gayboy Berzerkers and Smegma Crazies would have turned on Lord Humungus in short order.

As to your audience question? I'd assume I'd be killed, no matter what, and I'd take as many of them with me as I could.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] zozogogo 8 years ago

A resource surrender followed by instant slaughter may be a foregone conclusion at first glance, but given the struggle that existence has become for leadership and members alike for both sides, might Humongous's offer carry a bit more weight upon greater introspection?

Regarding this part, an interesting question/perspective, except while Humungus is choking out Wez, he very specifically states that after they have the gasoline Wez can have his revenge. So it's pretty clear he was not an "honorable man" with any intention of keeping his word. That's also one of the things that separated Max from the other low-lifes in the wasteland.

I think the plan was more along the lines of what you first mentioned, a sort of coup to avoid having to take heavy losses in manpower and resources taking the compound. And although Wez was shown to be insubordinate, we see that Humgunus still had rein over him, in fact quite literally toward the end when he's chained. So it appears Humungus had enough control where Wez couldn't sway a substantial portion of them to act against him.

I think the refinery folks could have waited them out; after all, without the gazoline from the refinery, how much further could Humungus' army have gotten? They were making sallies and shows every day, each of which used up that much more fuel. Unless they were making progress towards getting into the refinery, I'm pretty sure that the Gayboy Berzerkers and Smegma Crazies would have turned on Lord Humungus in short order.

I wonder if it was more a matter of food. Their larger livestock seemed to be outside(And ultimately killed), while inside the compound they had some pigs, chickens and rabbits; of which there didn't seem to many. I wonder how long they could make that last with the amount of people that needed to be fed each day. Outside the compound the marauders were free to hunt the various small game and could have potentially waited them out. Though I'm not sure Wez and whatever portion he commanded would have had the patience for that.

The blonde girl also has a line something like "Each day they grow stronger while we grow weaker", so the marauders seem to have been fairly successful at whittling them down each attack. If it came down to it, one wonders if attempting to scale the rear of the compound with an on-foot assault in the middle of the night could have been successful.

[–] Brenapp 8 years ago

Or perhaps Humungus would have allowed the bulk of the refinery crew to go in peace, but demanded the life of the feral child who killed Wez's lover/protege as a means to keep Wez satisfied?

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

I wonder if it was more a matter of food. Their larger livestock seemed to be outside(And ultimately killed), while inside the compound they had some pigs, chickens and rabbits; of which there didn't seem to many. I wonder how long they could make that last with the amount of people that needed to be fed each day. Outside the compound the marauders were free to hunt the various small game and could have potentially waited them out. Though I'm not sure Wez and whatever portion he commanded would have had the patience for that.

That's true; the refinery seemed to have only a few chickens and pigs left. But the occasional desert rabbit and dingo wouldn't have fed Humungus' army.

What was missing from the picture? Kangaroos.

If there were still mobs of roos ranging over the blasted outback, then the marauders - sitting outside of the fence, but able to hunt - could have starved the refinery people out.

But introspection is almost guaranteed to kill the fiery vibe of the best action movie ever made, so I'll forgive the movie for ignoring the fine details.

It's still fun and interesting to speculate about though, isn't it?

- Oh, SOMEbody asides me is gonna RUE this here particular day...

[–] Kruleworld 8 years ago

His forces, while stronger than theirs, are not totally expendable (it is the post-apocalypse and all), and they stand to lose at least some of their own by launching an attack on the remains of the compound.

I'm not sure they actually intending to rush an assault against the compound. He knew they were looking for supplies and a rig to haul the tanker, so was probably intending to just wear them down as their supplies became ever more scarce. Max kind of threw his plans under the bus.

"He's dusted, busted and disgusted, but he's ok"