Why we love Mad Max
These theme has really got our imaginations going. And as we’ve delved deeper into the films that inspired it and the deep, heartful lore that fuels its stories, we can’t wait to share this night with you. Here are just a few of the things we love Mad Max for…
FOR ITS KINKINESS
We have to admit - this MadMaXXX theme has got us so highly aroused!
It is just soooo damn kinky! Such a gorgeous exploration of the shadow. The actors don’t just wear BDSM clothing; they engage fully in it. They’re all constantly engaging in cages - on their face, body, or bits. The 5 Wives wear gorgeous chastity belts which they eventually crack open. The enslaved community they flee is lashed in lactation bondage.
The guys (& a mother) often seem to re-enact the Crucifixion - either strapped on masts to the front of careering vehicles, or to stakes, or poles. As blood bags, their blood is revered like a sacrament. There is horror, but also sacredness, and eros; a fetish and reverence for the embodied, and its beauty and resilience amidst all the hardships. There are hints of kinky breathplay in Immortan Joe’s breathing tubes and pneumatic hood (as well as his kinky armour); even in that moment the War Boys drag Max back from the precipice, his face wrapped in translucent latex…
Unlike most venues we work with, 338 (which IS slightly in the urban Wastelands, out on the Greenwich Peninsula, surrounded by NO Man’s Land, even though a (non-breathing) tube is on the doorstep) has an epic amount of space, like the Mad Max landscapes themselves.
They have a restrictive licence we’ll need to respect, thus no playroom (this is increasingly our direction - where we keep the energy in the collective); but we will be radically expanding our kink offer to embrace all kinds of kink - especially relating to bondage, offering all kinds of beautiful, saucy and juicy ways to explore power and submission and sensuality - privately as well as performatively - and all salaciously inspired by scenes from the films.
Norma Moriceau's early costume work in Mad Max and Beyond Thunderdome paved the way, inspired by a friend’s fetish store and the early London punk scene, she used scavenged materials like hockey masks and feathers that scream survival and chaos. Leather, belts, bracers, and intricate accessories weren't just for practicality—they were statements of ideology and rebellion.
Jenny Beavan's designs in Fury Road pushed the aesthetic even further, blending ritualistic armour, grotesque masks (Immortan Joe), and worn-out fabrics that perfectly capture the gritty, decayed world. The War Boys' fetish-like white body paint and Furiosa's rugged, utilitarian look are perfect for costume inspiration.
In the Furiosa prequel we see eco-friendly, recycled materials woven into complex post-apocalyptic fashion, emphasising survival in an even more hostile, dangerous world. This fusion of sustainability with scavenged tech speaks to our love for creating costumes that are not only visually stunning but deeply layered with meaning.
As you design your costumes, we encourage you to channel the essence of these iconic films—where leather, metal, and elements of fetish wear converge into a striking visual narrative. Your creations are more than just attire; they are a statement, an embodiment of survival, rebellion, and artistry.
FOR ITS FEMINISM
Mad Max: Fury Road isn’t just a feminist film because of its powerful female characters—it’s a bold critique of toxic masculinity and the destructive systems built by men. The question “Who killed the world?” echoes throughout, with the answer being clear: men and the violent, self-serving culture they’ve created.
The War Boys, driven by individualism and selfish desires, are willing to sacrifice one another in pursuit of their version of glory. Even Max begins as a lone ranger but evolves when he realises that true change comes from collective action—overthrowing the system instead of just escaping it. The film makes clear how men’s violence harms everyone, and women, often acting out of necessity, are forced to navigate and survive this brutal world. In the end, it’s a call to smash the patriarchy and rebuild something better.
We love Mad Max as a feminist film. Did you know that Eve Ensler, the author of The Vagina Monologues, served as a consultant to George Miller when he was making Fury Road? After offering her expertise and insight on the film, Enser commented about the portrayal of violence towards women, saying, “This movie takes those issues head-on. I think George Miller is a feminist, and he made a feminist action film.”
The focus on teamwork and collective action is a highlight, with women using their bodies as both weapons and shields, reclaiming their agency in a world that sees them as property. It’s a bold critique of objectification, while celebrating female autonomy and defiance in a harsh, post-apocalyptic landscape.
FOR ITS ACTION
Mad Max is an incredible feat of visual storytelling, standing out not only for its intense action sequences but also for its minimal use of dialogue. George Miller, known for favouring action over words, took this approach to the extreme in The Road Warrior, where Mel Gibson had just 16 lines in a 95-minute film. But Miller’s goal was to let the story unfold through the breathtaking action and visual symbolism rather than relying heavily on conversation.
This approach allows Fury Road to express its narrative through physicality—whether it’s Furiosa’s determination, the War Boys’ ritualistic sacrifices, or the unforgiving wasteland they all inhabit. Like Beyond Thunderdome, which drew inspiration from Lord of the Flies to explore power dynamics and the way people without knowledge give their all to a belief. Fury Road relies on its action scenes to highlight struggles for survival and leadership in a broken world. The film's stunning visual metaphors, from the bullet anti-seeds to the rebirth imagery, speak volumes without the need for excessive dialogue. In this way, Mad Max showcases the power of cinema as a visual medium, using movement, imagery, and symbolism to drive its story.
Join us for Mad MaXXX this Halloween
