Jugger? Like those people who wear clown make-up and drink Faygo?
Oh. Wait. Those are *Juggalos.
*
The Salute of the Jugger (also known as The Blood of Heroes) is a 1989 Post-Apocalyptic action movie about the fictional (at the time) ultra-violent sport of Jugger, where opposing teams of five players duke it out in order to spike a dog skull onto a stick within the allotted time limit of ‘100 stones’.
I guess if you fail to score then the result is a Jugger-nought.
Ahem.
Rutger Hauer is grizzled former league star Sallow, now relegated to touring the countryside competing in Div 12 Ressies. Joan Chen is Kidda, the young rookie ‘quick’ (aka the player that spikes the dog skull), who is desperate for her shot at the big leagues (and to experience the feel of silk on her face. LIFE GOALS). The rest of the squad comprise of a young chain swinging Vincent D’onofrio, Anna Katerina as ‘Big Climber’ and Delroy Lindo who is forever a legend for that scene from The Good Fight where he challenges white conservatives to drop the N word. I was today years old when I learned that was a fictional tv segment - but still amazing nonetheless.
I was recommended this one by a fb homie who sent me a YouTube vid of Top Ten Mad Max Rip-offs. Written and Directed by Blade Runner scribe David Peoples, The Salute of the Jugger definitely has Max vibes, especially in the wardrobe department and having Toecutter himself Hugh Keays-Byrne show up as villain Lord Vile (poor dude had to be a villain with that last name - whoever heard of a Primary School teacher named Mr Vile?), but the lack of any vehicles and the actual sport concept itself allow this to stand on its own.
If I can’t spend my post apocalyptic wasteland experience with Mel, Tom or Charlize then Rutger Hauer and Joan Chen are a fair substitute. I am considerably biased in support of Twin Peaks alumni (especially ones as beautiful as Josie Packard), but gosh darn it if spike haired Joan ain’t just an adorable bundle of vim and vigour in this. I’ll forever think of you Joan, whenever I secure my items in the bedside drawer at the Great Northern Hotel.
Speaking of post-apocalyptic wastelands - this was filmed in Coober Pedy, the opal mining capital of Australia. I’ve driven through Coobs plenty of times on my road trips from Alice to Victoria and its hot and dusty locale has housed many a film production - most recently Mortal Kombat!
Much like Quidditch, Jugger has now been turned into a real international sport with a Wikipedia entry bigger than the movie that inspired it. On film, the concept of the sport is cool, but the execution is a little hit and miss - it basically just looks like people beating the fuck out of each other - and the speed (which is presumably a key part of the game) isn’t really represented.
Shout-out to the dude who uploaded the entire movie to his Facebook account. I don’t vouch for sailing the pirate seas but as there were no streaming sites carrying the movie this was my only option!
Jugger? Like those people who wear clown make-up and drink Faygo?
Oh. Wait. Those are *Juggalos.
*
The Salute of the Jugger (also known as The Blood of Heroes) is a 1989 Post-Apocalyptic action movie about the fictional (at the time) ultra-violent sport of Jugger, where opposing teams of five players duke it out in order to spike a dog skull onto a stick within the allotted time limit of ‘100 stones’.
I guess if you fail to score then the result is a Jugger-nought.
Ahem.
Rutger Hauer is grizzled former league star Sallow, now relegated to touring the countryside competing in Div 12 Ressies. Joan Chen is Kidda, the young rookie ‘quick’ (aka the player that spikes the dog skull), who is desperate for her shot at the big leagues (and to experience the feel of silk on her face. LIFE GOALS). The rest of the squad comprise of a young chain swinging Vincent D’onofrio, Anna Katerina as ‘Big Climber’ and Delroy Lindo who is forever a legend for that scene from The Good Fight where he challenges white conservatives to drop the N word. I was today years old when I learned that was a fictional tv segment - but still amazing nonetheless.
I was recommended this one by a fb homie who sent me a YouTube vid of Top Ten Mad Max Rip-offs. Written and Directed by Blade Runner scribe David Peoples, The Salute of the Jugger definitely has Max vibes, especially in the wardrobe department and having Toecutter himself Hugh Keays-Byrne show up as villain Lord Vile (poor dude had to be a villain with that last name - whoever heard of a Primary School teacher named Mr Vile?), but the lack of any vehicles and the actual sport concept itself allow this to stand on its own.
If I can’t spend my post apocalyptic wasteland experience with Mel, Tom or Charlize then Rutger Hauer and Joan Chen are a fair substitute. I am considerably biased in support of Twin Peaks alumni (especially ones as beautiful as Josie Packard), but gosh darn it if spike haired Joan ain’t just an adorable bundle of vim and vigour in this. I’ll forever think of you Joan, whenever I secure my items in the bedside drawer at the Great Northern Hotel.
Speaking of post-apocalyptic wastelands - this was filmed in Coober Pedy, the opal mining capital of Australia. I’ve driven through Coobs plenty of times on my road trips from Alice to Victoria and its hot and dusty locale has housed many a film production - most recently Mortal Kombat!
Much like Quidditch, Jugger has now been turned into a real international sport with a Wikipedia entry bigger than the movie that inspired it. On film, the concept of the sport is cool, but the execution is a little hit and miss - it basically just looks like people beating the fuck out of each other - and the speed (which is presumably a key part of the game) isn’t really represented.
Shout-out to the dude who uploaded the entire movie to his Facebook account. I don’t vouch for sailing the pirate seas but as there were no streaming sites carrying the movie this was my only option!
