Bellflower, California is an author’s low-budget independent film inspired by dreams of a post-apocalyptic world, and at the same time it is a first-class drama. I was extremely pleased with this film and would like to dedicate a few lines to one of the main stars of the film, a car named Medusa.
The creators of the film conceived the Medusa primarily as a car that, in the event of an apocalypse, shows by its very appearance who is the leader here and who should be feared. Of course, the icon of the automotive industry in this direction are the paintings of the Mad Max series, and the authors of the Bellflower film did their best to resemble their idols.
The main problem with the construction of the Jellyfish was, of course, money. But after days of watching the trading floors on the Internet, the 1972 Buick Skylark was finally found. It was suitable both for the “classic aggressive muscle car” parameter and for a price of only $ 2,800.
Three years of work that continued to go side by side with the filming of the film. Fires, critical engine failures – all this constantly shifted the schedule. Like a moody star, Medusa delayed Bellflower’s release by eight months. But the result is amazing: the Chevrolet 455 engine, supercharged 8-71, a pump with a pressure of 136 atmospheres, which pumps gasoline into the exhaust system, so that the Jellyfish can effectively spit fire … An instrument panel that looks like an airplane dashboard, and on which every button works, and which is equipped with two monitors that can display black-a white image from the cameras installed on the car, as well as a system that sprays bleach on the rear wheels – this softens the rubber and each burn on the Jellyfish generates kilotons of smoke.
It’s a car for intimidation, remember? A kind of post-apocalyptic show-rod. And I think the authors have done their job. This is supported by the fact that they wanted to buy the Jellyfish for 35 thousand dollars. Despite the fact that this would have covered all the costs of the Bellflower with interest, the offer was not accepted.
After all, in the event of an apocalypse, money will no longer help anyone.
A source: https://www.wired.com/2011/03/medusa-bellflower / (March 15th, 2011)
