Who knew Furiosa had a cool older sister?
Thirty years ago, the world was graced with one of the most ambitious low-budget action films of the time. Based on Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett’s comic series, Tank Girl (1995) is a wacky post-apocalyptic action-comedy set in Australia, as the remaining survivors of humanity fight against the evil Water & Power Corporation and their attempts to horde the last of the world’s resources. The only thing standing in their way? The fearless young woman the film is named after (Lori Petty) and her partner-in-crime, Jet Girl (Naomi Watts). A ways away from the gritty world of the Mad Max films, Tank Girl remains one of the most creative and influential films of the 1990s, considering its low budget and nostalgic production design.
Tank Girl is a visual delight, with shots ripped right from the comic that emphasizes Tank Girl’s surreal view of the world (or what’s left of it). Rich with color and haphazard production design, these visuals resemble a junk journal or scrapbook. It’s as if the audience is looking through artist Jamie Hewlett’s personal sketchbook, which is partially true. The film contains many illustrations from Hewlett and even animated segments for portions of the film that the tight budget might not have been able to cover. These illustrations set the film far apart from other comic book films but still respect the source material, allowing audiences to see where the film originated. The visuals emphasize its specificity to ‘90s culture, which is hard to replicate nowadays due to heavy reliance on CGI for sets and effects.
The film’s low budget ($25 million) does show in places, with its CGI and digital effects creating an overly artificial atmosphere. Where it lacks in digital effects, it makes up in practical effects, specifically regarding the Rippers. Described as mutated kangaroo-human hybrid creatures, the Rippers are failed Water & Power experiments that join Tank Girl and Jet Girl in their quest to take down the nefarious corporation. The creatures were completed by special effects makeup artist Stan Winston and his team, who has won four Academy Awards throughout his career. The Rippers are visually incredible, with ears that move independently and unique designs for each character. It is a testament to the importance of practical effects in film.
The nostalgia of Tank Girl goes far beyond its special effects, with a killer soundtrack to fit the film’s grunge aesthetic. Containing iconic ‘90s artists such as Hole, Veruca Salt, and Björk, the soundtrack keeps the film kinetic while providing some iconic moments for Tank Girl and Jet Girl. This boundary-pushing soundtrack would be hard to replicate nowadays, but with the success of the conceptually similar soundtrack for Barbie (2023), it’s certainly not impossible.
Lori Petty easily stands out, embodying charisma and deadpan insanity in the role. Petty simply is Tank Girl, letting loose via improv and a captivating character design. Tank Girl would not be as riveting had Petty not brought 110% to the role. Her counterpart, Naomi Watts, complements her effortlessly, with Watts taking on a more reserved role. Upon revisiting the film, Petty’s performance seems to have inspired Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey (2020) due to her sheer chaos and unpredictability. It’s no surprise there were talks in 2019 to reboot the film with LuckyChap Entertainment, Robbie’s production company.
Despite all of these positives, Tank Girl is a rather unknown feminist cult classic. Tank Girl is loud, will not pull punches, and does not care about how she appears to men – or anyone, for that matter. She is vocal about her sexuality and often toys with her enemies through that, but her agency remains, and she is never whittled down in service of any man. Petty’s performance certainly set the stage for many feminist action heroines, such as the aforementioned Harley Quinn and Furiosa.
Tank Girl is an innovative film for its time, considering its depiction of a comic book heroine as more than eye candy for male readers. Tank Girl is a girl’s girl and the film prioritizes her relationship with Jet Girl before any relationship with a man, which is also a core theme in Birds of Prey. Her characterization clearly inspires modern female comic book characters, particularly Harley Quinn, because of her loud demeanor and fearlessness. This does not come with a loss of her sexuality, which refuses to cater to the male gaze. Tank Girl’s uncanny similarities to comic book heroines like Harley Quinn are evidence of the impact she has on female comic book characters today.
Tank Girl is a cult classic that oozes nostalgia and iconic performances despite its low budget. This feminist action film pioneered not just comic book films but feminist comic book films by displaying a charismatic female lead with confidence and a unique style. As the world grows more and more unpredictable by the day, Tank Girl’s determination and attitude can provide a carpe diem outlook on life.
Retrospective Courtesy of Nadia Arain
Feature Image Credit to Amazon MGM via IMDb