MAD MAX: The Doof Warrior

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By: Mike Johnston - Trent Reznor once said “to me.. rock music was never meant to be safe”. Singer/songwriter, Iota, MIGHT have taken this advice a little too seriously. The result, however, produced one of the coolest ideas in diegetic soundtrack history.

Starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) was a

massive critical and commercial success. The Namib desert offers breathtaking

backdrops for this post apocalyptic masterpiece. Fury Road boasts a stellar

storyline, deep character building and relentless action. Some critics have even

gone as far as to call it one of the best films of this century.

It’s hard to imagine stealing a show this good. Especially with no lines, no face,

and about 90 seconds on screen. In the case of The Doof Warrior, however, that’s exactly what happened. Despite the limited roll, his lasting impression isn’t hard to discern. For the entirety of his screen time, the Doof is suspended to a moving truck, playing a flame shooting electric guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZRTGFDMGKA

Director George Miller insisted upon working props and practical effects. This

meant a fully functioning “Doof Wagon”. It required working amps, a functional,

flame throwing guitar, and Iota actually playing while suspended in the air. Now

one couldn’t blame Miller for the addition of the Doof based simply off of aura. But the Doof is deeper.

Armies throughout history have brought music to the battlefield. Not unlike a Civil War drummer, Doof’s axe (which doubles as an actual axe) provides more than just inspiration. In the absence of modern communication, music provides clear and fast direction in battle. The flames also provide a bright visual cue, visible on a dusty battlefield. In a larger sense, the Doof represents the story's power struggle.

While what’s left of humanity wanders an apocalyptic wasteland, bad guy

Immoratan Joe, is able to “staff” a musician of war. The Doof Warrior is a prime example of Miller’s ability to heap meaning onto anything. No matter the roll or the prop, everything has purpose. His insistence on minimal use of CGI is felt throughout the film. This is no more evident than with the Doof. His real, human movement on screen is noticeable, and provides the character credibility. Iota performing these stunts, while actually playing his guitar,

only adds to the lore of this fan favourite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXb-9v9FLDA

So remember, in a world full of CGI flame shooting guitarists strapped to moving trucks.. be a real one.

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