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Monday, October 19, 2020
Turbo Kid (2015) - Shudder Spree
Streaming Services: Shudder, Prime Video, Tubi,
Crackle Movie Name/Year: Turbo Kid (2015) Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy Length: 95 minutes Rating: Unrated Production/Distribution: EMA Films, Epic Pictures Group, Timpson Films, Epic
Pictures Group, Atlantic Film, Filmoption International, Nippon Shuppan Hanbai,
A Contracorriente Films, Amplify, Eagle Films, Epic Pictures Releasing, Film1,
Filmfreak Distributie, Ledick Filmhandel, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Raven
Banner Entertainment, Remain In Light, Transmission Films Director: François Simard, Anouk
Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell Writer: François Simard, Anouk
Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell Actors: Munro Chambers, Laurence
Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Edwin Wright, Aaron Jeffery, Romano Orzari, Orphée
Ladouceur-Nguyen, Steeve Léonard, Yves Corbeil, Evan Manoukian, Anouk Whissell,
François Simard, Tyler Hall, Pierre-André Sigouin Blurb from IMDb: In a post-apocalyptic wasteland
in 1997, a comic book fan adopts the persona of his favourite hero to save his
enthusiastic friend and fight a tyrannical overlord.
Cat’s Point of View:
This latest movie in our month-long Shudder Spree isn’t
exactly a traditional horror movie, as most of the films we’re watching this
month are. There isn’t anything supernatural about it, in fact. It’s got a
grindhouse level of blood-fountain gore – but only because of the ultra-violent
post-apocalyptic setting. When I say blood-fountain, I’m telling you that they gave a
new definition to ‘making it rain.’ That being said, Turbo
Kid is definitely packed with some crazy nostalgic fun. One of the quotes
seen on some posters and the DVD covers likens this movie to “Mad Max on a BMX.” I think that sums
things up rather well – if a bit understated.
It feels like the world, today, is going insane already. All
these post-apocalyptic movies get more believable by the day. I’m not sure that
I 100% buy into this particular vision… but I really don’t think we’re
supposed to. Take into consideration the fact that a movie released in 2015 is
calling 1997 “the future.” (Though, I do believe that bicycles are a more
feasible mode of transportation in an apocalyptic situation, considering the
finite supply of gasoline. I digress…)
This film was heavily weighted to 80’s retro. I have a great
love for that decade, and so my inner-kid was having a happy-dance with each
new ‘artifact’ that made its appearance on the screen. This love-letter to the
80’s post-apocalyptic sub-genre is even reflected in Turbo Kid’s synth score. It was well-done and was a good fit for
the action on-screen. I could ramble on about all of the references, but I
think you get the point.
The cherry on top for me, and frankly one of the deciding
factors to watch this movie in the first place, was Michael Ironside’s (Extraterrestrial, Patient 7, The Harrowing)
involvement with the production. I can’t think of a single movie I’ve seen him
in that I haven’t enjoyed. He does tend to get involved with some off-the-wall
projects and crazy B-movies; but he’s also held key roles in hits such as Starship Troopers (1997), Top Gun (1986), and Total Recall (1990). He was a perfect choice for the ‘big bad’ of
this movie.
Turbo Kid
definitely has some camp and cheese involved with it, but it is also very aware
of such, and I was loving it. It hits just the right tone so that it’s not an
eye-rolling situation and I definitely wasn’t bored as this film pedaled its
way into my heart.
I realize this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If, however,
you’re not a fan of the ultra-spooky or other nightmare-fuel driven horror
movies; or even if you just need a break for a few laughs in between heavier
films Turbo Kid might just be for
you.
Rotten
Tomatoes Critic Score – 91% Rotten
Tomatoes Audience Score – 77% Metascore – 60/100 Metacritic
User Score – 8.0/10 IMDB
Score – 6.7/10 Trust
the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5 Trust
the Dice: Parental Advisory Rating – R
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