Gas-s-s-s

Gas-s-s-s (also known as "Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.") is a darkly comedic science fiction film released in 1970, directed by Roger Corman, and starring Robert Corff, Elaine Giftos, George Armitage, and Alex Wilson. This movie intermingles elements of post-apocalyptic narratives, farcical black comedy, and radical countercultural themes, making it a product of its turbulent epoch.

The film's plot is set in motion when a military experiment goes awry, releasing a gas that kills everyone over the age of 25. The central characters, Max (Robert Corff), a former grad student, and his girlfriend, Marissa (Elaine Giftos), a flippant but intelligent hippie, are thrust into a world filled with uncertainty and chaos. With this new societal structure, they endeavor to make sense of their world now stripped of its older generation, where youth culture, for better or worse, has taken the reins.

The upside to this is a surreal and educated display of liberated expression—music, art, philosophy, and uninhibited lifestyle choices. However, the lack of order or structure introduces a new set of dangers, with rival biker gangs and violent factions filling the power vacuum. In this brave new world, Max and Marissa find themselves navigating the dystopian landscape, meeting an array of colorful characters as they search for a mythical place known as New Texas, which is said to exist out of the gas's reach.

In their travels across the barren American landscape, the two emerge as unlikely heroes, embodying free spirits of counterculture. As they encounter various micro societies and communities formed in the post-genocide world, their appeal grows. Ranging from a militant neo-Nazi school football team to an Edgar Allan Poe-quoting serial killer on a golf course, the characters they meet embody exaggerated elements of the social and political zeitgeist of the late '60s.

Adventures unfurling through the movie are stitched together with an ingenious use of animated sequences, designed by underground cartoonist Ron Cobb, providing an innovative narrative device. The film features elements of absurd humor, unconventional storytelling, and a psychedelic aesthetic which complements the narrative's madcap nature.

Despite the dark premise, the film leans heavily into satire. Humorous and bizarre scenarios play out with no adults around to enforce the rules. Corman's signature visual style is present in the bright, pop-art influenced color palette, creating a stark contrast with the dire predicament facing humanity.

The film also features a rich soundtrack typical for the period, a vibrant mix of folk, rock, country, and instrumental music. Notably, folk-rock band Country Joe and the Fish contributed to this eccentric soundtrack, adding to the film's authentic '60s atmosphere.

Corff's performance as the cerebral, pacifistic Max offers a sharp contrast to the chaos unfolding around him, whilst Giftos's portrayal of free-spirit Marissa gives the film a heart and moral compass. Also worth mentioning is George Armitage, who plays Carlos, a comical, Johnny Cash-like balladeer who guides the audience through the chaotic world with a twinkle in his eye and sarcasm on his tongue.

Gas-s-s-s is a testament to the American New Wave films of the 60s and early 70s, exploring the fears, tensions, and aspirations of counterculture in a uniquely satirical way. Its anarchic humor, idiosyncratic characters, and anarchistic tone all contribute to the film's distinctive charm. If you're a devotee of dark comedy, appreciative of post-apocalyptic narratives, or simply enjoy the idea of a world turned topsy-turvy by errant gas, this may be the film for you. The result is a unique blend of satire, social commentary, and survival story, refracted through the lens of late '60s counterculture.