Frequent readers of this site have probably heard me talk about growing up on the genre-blending adventure movies of the 1980s. Whether it was science-fiction fantasy or classic sword-and-sorcery, if it was on the television I was watching it. And while some haven’t aged as well as others, I still hold those movies in high regard. Perhaps that’s why I get a little giddy whenever I see modern filmmakers tipping their hats to those nearly forgotten genre gems.

That’s exactly what co-producers, co-writers, and co-directors Domagoj Mazuran and Zoran Lisinac do with their new dystopian sci-fi film, “Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead”. Together they build an entirely new world that pulls inspiration from several places yet tells a story very much its own. Even better, Mazuran and Lisinac create a uniquely original mythology that is deep and detailed while maintaining a tight focus. It’s the storytelling itself that’s a little shaky. More on that in a second.

An opening monologue sets things up nicely. The tale is set some 300 years after a catastrophic flood left the earth with nothing but a few scattered islands in an unending ocean. The “old world” with all of its cities, cultures, and knowledge now lays lost at the bottom of the waters. Surrounding what remains is a vast, perpetual, and impenetrable electrical storm that forms an ominous and deadly horizon.

From the ruins, the massive city of Argos was built and ruled by a mysterious group of immortals called the Founders. As sprigs of human civilization sprang from the various islands, Argos became the hub of power and prominence. But with their power came the urge to control. It led the Founders to introduce a perilous annual speedboat race where chosen pilots from each island called storm riders would compete. The victor wins his island’s entry into Argos. But finish last and your island is stripped of its resources and its people cast out.

On Fig Island, two young storm riders have dreamed of competing in the race since their childhood. Neb (Marco Ilsø) and Ana (Ivana Dudić) grew up hearing the legend of Hammerhead – an outlaw storm rider who dared to defy the Founders by piloting his boat into the storm to see what secrets may lie beyond. Driven by the same spirit (and some personal motivation), Neb and Ana plan to use their opportunity as riders to pierce the storm in hopes of finding freedom for their people. But the villainous head Founder, Lord Tarus (Gilles Geary) is willing to stop them, no matter the cost.

Several other key characters help fill out the world including Neb’s wise yet nebulous grandfather, Dida (James Cosmo) and Tarus’ top lieutenant, known only as the Baroness (Caroline Goodall). Both clearly know more than they let on, and the secrets they hide play significant roles in the unfolding story. Yet they, like most of the movie’s central players, too often feel like archetypes rather than fully formed human characters.

But the film’s biggest issue is found in its overuse of lengthy exposition, monologues, and narration. Without question, there is some interesting world-building to mine from the MANY explanations we get. But it’s not long before they start zapping the movie of its energy. It doesn’t kill the sheer imagination and craftsmanship at the heart of “Storm Rider”. But there are times when it slows the movie’s momentum to a crawl.

Despite that, Mazuran and Lisinac deserve a lot of credit for this ambitious undertaking. “Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead” is a notably fresh and imaginative slice of dystopian sci-fi manages to transport us to a fascinating new world without breaking the proverbial bank. The visuals frequently impress through their combination of real-life locations, imaginative production design, and fusion of practical and digital effects. And while its a bit like “Death Race 2000” meets “Waterworld”, the film dares to take itself seriously, telling a story without winking at the camera every step of the way. That alone is something I can appreciate.

VERDICT – 3 STARS