Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Harry Baldwin takes his wife Ann and two teenagers, Rick and Karen, on a camping trip in Sierra, Nevada. While on they are on the road, nuclear war breaks out, wiping out their home in Los Angeles as well as other major cities and quickly throwing the world into chaos. Determined to keep his family safe, Harry drives them as far from civilization as possible and they take up residence in a cave. However, he soon learns even hiding in the deep wilderness isn't enough to protect them from danger. Who's in it? The movie stars Ray Milland , Jean Hagan , Frankie Avalon , Mary Mitchel and Joan Freeman. Review: I overslept a bit this morning and realizing I couldn't remember the movie I had planned on watching, randomly selected one from my library. This ended up being Panic in Year Zero! I've seen plenty of end-of-the-world movies and some are much better than others. This is one I would describe as one of those better ones. One of the things I liked most about t...

Synopsis: Hundreds of years after nuclear war, Colorado is now a matriarchal society ruled by female tribes, known as Frau, who kill and enslave the men. Two escapees, Korvis and Gruss form their own all-male tribe, educating and civilizing themselves with the help of children's books and fighting the women to free others. When the Frau gain a new Tiara (queen), Vena, Korvis attempts to use the Frau legend of the "Prezeedent" to get her alone and negotiate peace. However, Reya's second in command, Lakella, influenced by the leader of another tribe, decides to wipe out the men once and for all. Who's in it? The movie stars Chuck Wagner, Laurene Landon , William Wallace, Sue Giosa and Victoria Barrett. Review: I attended another one of my daughter's community theater performances last night and didn't have an opportunity to pick out this morning's movie in advance as a result of that. So, I pretty much went with the first film in my library that caugh...

Synopsis: In the year 2033, the Earth is a desert wasteland following a collision with a comet and 95 percent of the world's water supply is under the control of a tyrannical corporation that is determined to gain control of the remaining 5 percent by any means possible. The only person standing in their way is a tank-driving hero from Australia. Who's in it?  The movie stars Lori Petty, Malcolm McDowell , Ice-T , Don Harvey and Naomi Watts . Review: It had been pretty much forever since I had seen Tank Girl . So, when I came across it this morning on one of my movie channels and had some free time, I decided to re-watch it. As has been the case when I've seen it in the past, I enjoyed every minute. The thing I like about this movie is it manages to be funny while, at the same time, is a pretty decent action movie. Tank Girl/Rebecca (Petty) is facing off against a well-armed army and has everything working against her from almost the very beginning. At the same time, she...

Synopsis: In a dystopian future caused by an economic collapse, people can find entertainment watching convicted felons compete in a violent automobile race in exchange for a shot at their freedom. When a popular racing star, Frankenstein, is killed, the prison warden, Claire Hennesey, frames ex-con Jensen Ames for the murder of his wife and convinces him to pose as Frankenstein in exchange for his freedom if he wins. It doesn't take Ames long, however, to realize Hennesey has no intention of letting him win. Who's in it? The movie stars Jason Statham , Joan Allen , Tyrese Gibson , Ian McShane and Natalie Martinez. Review: After mowing the lawn in hot/humid weather yesterday, I ready to just crash on the couch and watch a movie with my wife. We ended up picking Death Race because it was readily available. Unfortunately, it didn't prove to be a favorite. There were a number of reasons why I just couldn't get into this movie as much as I thought I would. One of the m...

Synopsis: Sometime in the near future, a biochemical weapon incident has wiped out most of the planet and left the air unbreathable. Bauer and Cartwright are among the few survivors and are in charge of maintaining a makeshift facility designed to house cryogenically frozen scientists until the air outside is breathable again. They are given two hours every six months to complete their tasks before returning to their sleep chambers. However, when Cartwright's chamber catches on fire, the men realize one of them will die if they don't find an alternative. Who's in it? The movie stars Norman Reedus , Djimon Hounsou and Sandrine Holt . Review: We finally had an evening that wasn't centered around my daughter's theater rehearsals and since it was reasonably early but raining outside, my wife and I found another movie to watch. She's a big Norman Reedus fan so when I came across Air on one of our movie channels, I chose it.  Even my Norman Reedus-loving wife tho...

Synopsis: In the year 1997, while the United States wages war with the Soviet Union and China, the high crime rate in the United States has resulted in Manhattan being walled off and turned into a maximum-security prison. The prisoners are prevented from escaping but otherwise have full control of the city and live by their own rules. After robbing the Federal Reserve, former special forces soldier Snake Plisson is set to become the prison's newest occupant. However, after Air Force One crashes inside the prison walls and the President of the United States is taken hostage, Snake is offered a full pardon in exchange for rescuing the POTUS. If he doesn't do so in 22 hours though, he will be blown apart by micro explosives in his bloodstream. Who's in it? The movie stars Kurt Russell , Ernest Borgnine , Donald Pleasence , Lee Van Cleef and Isaac Hayes . Review: It has been more than a decade since I last watched Escape from New York, long enough for me to only remember bi...

Synopsis: In the year 2030, former child actress Katie Kim returns to Los Angeles after a long hiatus to care for her dying mother in an attempt to reignite her career as an adult. Due to her absence and avoidance of current events she doesn't know the now impoverished city has implemented a lottery until she accidentally gets the winning ticket worth $3.6 billion. There's just one catch, anyone in the city can legally kill her and claim the money as long as they do it by sundown and without using a gun. Her only hope for survival comes from Noel, a freelance lottery protection agent who is willing to keep her alive for 10 percent or get her out of the city (which voids her winnings) for nothing. Noel seems to know what he's doing but can Katie trust him not to try to claim the full $3.6 billion for himself? Who's in it? The movie stars Awkwafina , John Cena , Simu Liu , Marian Green and  Ayden Mayeri . Review: I lost interest in professional wrestling several years...