I think by now the basic "Max Headroom" phenomenon has about lived out its course in the American pop subculture. But that doesn't offset the care, intensity and detail that accompanies this Excalibur offering.

This feature explodes with electronic gadgetry, pop art graphics, a couple of good digs at Geraldo Rivera, and something we're beginning to see more of a glimmer of these days in adult shot-on-video, time and capitol involvement.

Porsche Lynn as Allison Karter, intrepid newshound for Network 30, is as wily and seductive as I've ever seen her. The story line doesn't deviate a heckuva lot from the Headroom mythos, except here, Network 30 courtesy of slimeball head honch Robert Bullock and the equally Sharon Mitchell, is sending out subliminal sexvert messages across the airwaves turning viewers into raving, kick down the door sexual practitioners.

Give kudos where due both to Randy West and Demi White as Mr. and Mrs. Deacon Whitemeat, victims #1 of the sexverts. They play a redneck couple perfectly, and their sex scene is quite cleverly produced. In fact, all the scenes drip with a word I haven't used for a while in reviewing - cleverness.

Sometimes scenery overrides the common element we seek in these features, namely eroticism. Not so here. Director Adele Robbins delivers a production that skimps on nothing.