George Miller’s originalMad Maxmovie is the only movie to show"Mad" Max Rockatansky’s backstoryand family in detail, revealing him to have a wife called Jessie and a baby son called Sprog.Mad Maxis different from the other movies in the franchise, as it shows a dystopian future rather than the post-apocalyptic wasteland that viewers now associate with theMad Maxmovie series. While the movie looks different from its sequels, it is essential for the lore of the franchise, with the events ofMad Maxsetting up his character for the next movies.
Mad Maxis a gritty revenge story in which the police officer, Max Rockatansky, turns vigilante after his wife and son are murdered by the villainous Toecutter and his gang. Toecutter is one of the more callousMad Maxmovie villains, as he and his gang run Jessie and Sprog over, leaving them to die. This was shocking at the time, as few movies killed off child characters. Sprog and Jessie’s death is still one ofMad Max’s most disturbing moments, which is made worse as the viewer doesn’t know Sprog’s real name.
“Sprog” Is A Colloquial Word For “Child” In Australian Slang
The word “sprog” began as British slang in the 1940s, and while it refers to a small child, its origin is unknown. It could potentially have come from the medieval word “sprag,” which meant “a lively young man.” As British and Australian slang have historically shared and borrowed words from each other, sprog is also an Australian slang term for a small child. This means thatviewers never knew the name of Max Rockatansky’s son, as Sprog is an affectionate nickname. This makes his death one of themost disturbing moments inMad Max.
Mad Maxis one of Australia’s most successful movies, thoughFury Road’s wasteland landscape could theoretically be anywhere. Still,Furiosaconfirmed thatMad Maxis set in Australiaby including references to the country and its cars, andFuriosais not the onlyMad Maxmovie to hint at its setting.The Road Warriorshowed a dead kangaroo andBeyond Thunderdomefeatured a ruined Sydney Harbor.All theMad Maxmovies contain signature Australian slang, likeFury Road’s “fang it” (drive fast) and “rev-head” (a car enthusiast.) Even Toecutter’s name is Australian slang, meaning a criminal who robs other criminals.
Mad Max’s dystopian setting could hint at a disturbing and sad possibility for Sprog’s lack of a name. When child mortality rates were higher, parents would often wait to name their children until it appeared certain that they would survive. AsMad Maxshows a crumbling society, this tradition could have begun again. Still, even if this was the case, the practice did not change Max’s devastated reaction to his death. For the audience, this is even more upsetting, as Sprog died before he was even given a name (or old enough to ask his dad to use it.)
Mad Max’s Next Movie Can’t Confirm The Best Fury Road Theory Unless Tom Hardy Returns
One Mad Max: Fury Road theory would completely redefine Tom Hardy’s take on Max Rockatansky, but the franchise will probably never confirm it.
Tom Hardy’s “Mad” Max lived up to the original title, with Max seeing visions of people he couldn’t save. These have not yet included Sprog, but he could still be referenced in a later movie.TheMad Maxfranchise could confirm the theory that babies are named later in the wastelandby showing children being called Sprog until they come of age. Alternatively, Max could tell somebody Sprog’s name, though as Sprog has impacted theMad Maxsaga more than any other character, with his loss being the catalyst for the entire story, maybe he doesn’t need a name.
