Wheels of Fire (1985)

This B-grade clone of George Miller’s Mad Max 2 was filmed in the Philippines and directed by Cirio H. Santiago.

In the post-apocalyptic wastelands (actually a Filipino quarry), Trace (Mel Gibson-wannabe Gary Watkins briefly elevated from his usual bit-part status) battles the forces of the evil Scourge (Joe Mari Avellana billed here as Joseph Anderson) and his roving band of marauders – the Highway Warriors – when they capture and gang rape his kid sister Arlie (former Playboy Playmate of the Month Lynda Wiesmeier), whose boobs are undoubtedly the biggest stars of the film.

Trace is assisted by bounty hunter/love interest Stinger (Laura Banks) and telepath Spike (Linda Grovenor).

A group of hippies called “the True Believers” have built a rocket ship in the desert, but that’s peripheral to chasing cars, blowing things up and torching bad guys with Trace’s flamethrower.

Santiago doesn’t hide the plagiarism at all. Entire scenes from Mad Max 2 are recreated shot for shot, and while he demonstrates plenty of enthusiasm he lacks Miller’s style or even basic levels of competence.

There are also subterranean troglodyte albino cannibals known as the “Sandmen”, which appear to be a direct lift from the Morlocks in The Time Machine. 

It’s absolute rubbish with terrible acting, lousy stunt work and bargain-basement production values but it ticks all the 80s action film boxes:  nudity, car chases, lots of explosions, and leather-clad men beating each other up.

Lynda Wiesmeier died of a brain tumour in 2012 aged just 49.

Trace
Gary Watkins
Stinger
Laura Banks
Arlie
Lynda Wiesmeier
Spike
Linda Grovenor
Scourge
Joe Mari Avellana (as Joseph Anderson)
Whiz
Joseph Zucchero
Scag
Jack S. Daniels
Bo
Steve Parvin
Ambassador
Nigel Hogge
Harlan
Dennis Cole
Robot
Don Gordon
Pug
Gary Taylor
Hazel
Linda Drake

Director
Cirio H. Santiago