Refreshing retro movie inspiration for the summer

If you watch post-apo, read Dune, secretly spy on small Jawas from behind the rocks, or play Fallout, you surely know how to prepare for a lack of drinking water and how to survive unbearable heat:

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But if you don't feel like moving a muscle in this heat, you can forget all that, park your butt in front of your home cinema, and enjoy an action-packed or horror-filled summer with a movie and an ice-cold drink in hand. If your well of inspiration happens to run dry, we have a few wet and dry retro-tips and refreshing absurdities for you that won't fry your brain.

Refreshing sea marathon

Good old action flicks and easily digestible B-movies, not just for the old-school fans. Cool off in the waves of cinematic waters from 1989, when underwater deep-sea movies were all the rage, or go for a swim with Kevin Costner, and then let yourself get eaten by a shark monster!

The Abyss, James Cameron (1989)

An American nuclear submarine, an oil rig, and Cameron underwater with aliens.

You don't have to head into deep space for aliens; just overcome several atmospheres of pressure and pretend you're saving an American nuclear submarine, and voilà! While exploring the underwater abyss, you find an alien vessel—or are they Russians? That's a question you really don't want to deal with while your head is under immense pressure in the deep sea. Plus, your almost-ex, whom you're divorcing, happens to be there too.

Leviathan, George P. Cosmatos (1989)

Hydration is important, of course, but never drink alcohol from a stranger's bottle, especially on a Russian submarine! A low-budget clone of The Abyss, Alien, and The Thing, which will pleasantly surprise you with its production design, direction by George Cosmatos (Rambo 2, Cobra), and a fairly solid cast.

Waterworld, Kevin Reynolds (1995)

A pleasantly refreshing adventure with Kevin Costner, or what would happen if those glaciers really did melt completely one day! A surprisingly fun and watchable flick without excessive demands on the viewer's intellect.

Shark themes and Asylum studio gems

Sad you're not going to the seaside this year? Put on a shark horror movie. Some of these films are perfect, especially when a tropical night won't let you sleep, and you'll get a workout for your diaphragm too.

Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus, or Sharknado? Take your pick. Asylum makes your wildest dreams come true! This crazy low-budget film studio stops at nothing, creating a whole parade of twisted, terrifying movies with shark monsters.

Is salt water coming out of your ears from all the shark-beasts and underwater aliens? Drinking water is for kids… Have a Death Potion! A dark, sparkling drink from the imago alchemy workshop with a terrifyingly delicious cherry cola flavor.

Culture for desert nomads and gerbils

If your fingers have started to prune, it's time to climb out of the water and dry off thoroughly! 🏜️

Tank Girl, Rachel Talalay (1995)

Drought, punk, post-apo, and the evil Water&Power corporation on top of that. Luckily, a brave girl with a tank is on her way, so what could possibly go wrong…

This colorful and insane post-apocalyptic flick has an even better comic book source material by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin. Although it's no cinematic masterpiece—the film is actually poorly made—it's saved by the sexy-crazy punker and main heroine Rebecca (Lori Petty), who has a mutant kangaroo for a boyfriend, hates the Water&Power company, and fights for the rights of ordinary people (and kangaroos).

And it's time for another commercial break: I can't offer you plain drinking water for your movie marathon, but the Life Potion with ginger flavor might just get your blood pumping and brighten your outlook on a dry, apocalyptic future.

Mad Max, George Miller (1979)

This year we got the movie Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. But watch Mad Max from the very beginning! Even though fuel is constantly running out everywhere, it's a pleasant retro ride through the desert full of legendary cars and motorcycles.

How did it all start? A doctor decided to make a movie about car and motorcycle accidents and used his medical practice earnings to fund the filming. It was such a success that he's still making those movies today. The motorcycle gang roaming the post-apocalyptic Australian desert is ruled by Max Rockatansky, played by Mel Gibson, the Australian actor and feared Scottish warrior.

Sunabouzu, aka Desert Punk, anime series (2004-2005)

When the desert becomes your home, forget about decency and elegance. Enter Desert Punk! Kanta Mizuno, a master of survival and an even bigger master of slacking off, tries to earn money on mercenary jobs while maintaining his reputation as the biggest scumbag under the sun. In the Great Kanto Desert, where even a drop of water gets stolen, our hero tries to survive, make a fortune, and avoid serious trouble, though he usually doesn't succeed very well.

During the series, we recommend catching up on your water and sugar deficit with one or two anime drinks and snacking on some great anime chips; you'll find both in our tasty animerch.

author: Pavla Žižková