Author Archives: Henry McKeand

Double Threat (2022) Review

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Henry McKeand

Director: Shane Stanley Cast: Danielle C. Ryan, Dawn Olivieri, Matthew Lawrence, Kevin Joy, Andrea Logan, Mo Gallini, David Castro, Aimey Beer, Val Barri, Dmitriy Karas Running Time: 92 min. By Henry McKeand “What do you think this is? A Hallmark movie?” This line from last year’s Double Threat, spoken by a cynical mob fixer, is supposed to indicate that, no, this is not a Hallmark movie. But with middle-of-the-road digital … Continue reading →

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Silencers, The (1996) Review

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Henry McKeand

Director: Richard Pepin Cast: Jack Scalia, Dennis Christopher, Carlos Lauchu, Lucinda Weist, Clarence Williams III, Stephen Rowe, Lance LeGault, Madison Mason, Terri Poch Running Time: 103 min.  By Henry McKeand PM Entertainment always understood how to borrow the most successful elements of mainstream action cinema and synthesize them into sweaty, single-minded B-movies that somehow delivered more fireworks than tentpole films with three times their budget. If the composition of your average … Continue reading →

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Sex and Fury (1973) Review

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Henry McKeand

Director: Norifumi Suzuki Cast: Reiko Ike, Akemi Negishi, Ryoko Ema, Yoko Hori, Naomi Oka, Katsumasa Uchida, Rena Ichinose, Tatsuo Endō, Yōko Mihara, Christina Lindberg Running Time: 88 min. By Henry McKeand While action cinema has long been criticized as pornographic in its depictions of bloodshed and weaponry, the ‘pinky violence’ films released in Japan during the 60s and 70s are early examples of filmmakers pushing that pornographic label past the … Continue reading →

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Pom Pom and Hot Hot (1992) Review

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Joe Cheung Tung Cho Cast: Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, Stephen Tung Wei, Rachel Lee Lai Chun, Alfred Cheung Kin Tin, Austin Wai Tin Chi, Lam Ching Ying, Bonnie Fu Yuk Jing, Ricky Cheung Kwok Leung, Guy Lai Ying Chau, John Ching Tung Running Time: 90 min. By Henry McKeand The early heroic bloodshed films from John Woo and his contemporaries were, above all, Heaven-or-Hell morality tales. These are stories of violent men who fight desperately to … Continue reading →

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Impetigore (2019) Review

Posted on October 21, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Joko Anwar Cast: Tara Basro, Ario Bayu, Marissa Anita, Christine Hakim, Asmara Abigail, Zidni Hakim, Afrian Aris, Kiki Narendra, Faradina Mufti, Abdulrahman Arief Running Time: 107 min. By Henry McKeand Modern supernatural horror films seem to be split into two camps. In one camp are haunted house rollercoaster rides designed to pack in as many jump scares as possible. Think The Conjuring or most films produced by James Wan. In … Continue reading →

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Haze (2005) Review

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Shinya Tsukamoto Cast: Shinya Tsukamoto, Takahiro Murase, Takahiro Kandaka, Masato Tsujioka, Mao Saito Running Time: 49 min. By Henry McKeand Shinya Tsukamoto’s films have always presented a claustrophobic view of the world. Even in massive and open urban landscapes, Tsukamoto’s characters are trapped by the oppressive man-made structures that surround them. There’s the sense that concrete and steel are capable of closing in at any time, overwhelming and overpowering … Continue reading →

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Twins Effect (2003) Review

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Dante Lam Cast: Gillian Chung, Charlene Choi, Ekin Cheng, Josie Ho Chiu-Yee, Jackie Chan, Edison Chen Koon-Hei, Mickey Hardt, Karen Mok Man-Wai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Chapman To Man-Chat, Bey Logan, Spencer Lam Running Time: 107 min.  By Henry McKeand Vampires and Kung Fu films have a long, if troubled, history. From 1974’s Shaw Brothers/Hammer Horror co-production Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires to wacky 80s fare such as Encounters … Continue reading →

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Exciting Dragon | aka Drunken Dragon (1985) Review

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Henry McKeand

AKA: Drunken Dragon Director: Chiu Chung Hing Cast: Suen Kwok Ming, Chiang Sheng, Chow Mei Yee, Philip Ko Fei, Leung Kar Yan, Yeung Hung, William Yen, Ko Jan Pang, Chen Chin Hai, Lam Gwong Wing Running Time: 94 min. By Henry McKeand One set piece in Chiu Chung-Hing’s Exciting Dragon (or Drunken Dragon, depending on who you ask) involves a man steering a wheeled rowboat as he fights, indoors, against … Continue reading →

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Cruel Gun Story (1964) Review

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Takumi Furukawa Cast: Jo Shishido, Chieko Matsubara, Tamio Kawaji, Shobun Inoue, Yuji Odaka, Minako Kazuki, Hiroshi Nihonyanagi, Hiroshi Kondo, Saburo Hiromatsu Running Time: 87 min. By Henry McKeand In the 1960s, the Japanese studio Nikkatsu made a string of hard-edged crime thrillers that became known as “borderless action” films. They received this distinction because they borrowed from international influences, combining classic American noir and French New Wave gangster cool … Continue reading →

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Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021) Review

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Sion Sono Cast: Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Ed Skrein, Tak Sakaguchi, Bill Moseley, Nick Cassavetes, Yuzuka Nakaya, Young Dais, Koto Lorena, Jai West, Cici Zhou Running Time: 103 min. By Henry McKeand When talking or writing about Nicolas Cage, the word “extreme” inevitably comes up. In some ways, it has defined his career, leading to a perhaps unfair reputation as an overactor. This reputation, coupled with memes and viral … Continue reading →

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Kiltro (2006) Review

Posted on May 27, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Cast: Marko Zaror, Caterina Jadresic, Miguel Angel De Luca, Daniela Lhorente, Luis Alarcón, Alejandro Castillo, Man Soo Yoon, Roberto Avendano Running Time: 93 min. By Henry McKeand At first glance, Marko Zaror is what you expect from an action star. A tall, intimidating martial artist from Chile with an intense screen presence, he was first introduced to most action fans as the villainous Dolor in the … Continue reading →

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Bloodmoon (1997) Review

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Tony Leung Siu Hung Cast: Gary Daniels, Darren Shahlavi, Michael Depasquale Jr, Keith Vitali, Rob Van Dam, Chuck Jeffreys, Frank Gorshin, Ken Kensei, Jen Sung, Joe Hess Running Time: 102 min. By Henry McKeand “It’s never enough!” These words are spoken by Bloodmoon’s villain in the opening fight scene, but they could double as the unofficial mantra of this maximalist martial arts buddy cop flick. The funny detective being … Continue reading →

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Breathing Fire (1991) Review

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Lou Kennedy Co-director: Brandon De-Wilde Cast: Ke Huy Quan, Eddie Saavedra, Ed Neil, Jerry Trimble, Bolo Yeung, Wendell C. Whitaker Running Time: 85 min. By Henry McKeand How’s this for an early-90s time capsule? Breathing Fire is a film so dedicated to its Xtreme teenage aesthetic that the plot revolves around a group of kickboxing bank robbers searching for a slice of pizza. Just when you think it couldn’t … Continue reading →

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Mechanical Violator Hakaider (1995) Review

Posted on April 13, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Keita Amemiya Cast: Yuji Kishimoto, Mai Hosho, Yasuaki Honda, Dai Matsumoto, Kazuhiko Inoue, Sumisu Andi Running Time: 51/71 min. By Henry McKeand There’s cerebral, lore driven science fiction, and then there’s something like Mechanical Violator Hakaider: a lizard-brained action fantasy with little patience for traditional world-building or character development. Directed by Keita Amemiya (Zeiram, Kamen Rider ZO) and based on the 1972 tokusatsu series Android Kikaider, the film is … Continue reading →

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Hard Hit (2021) Review

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Henry McKeand

Director: Kim Chang-Ju Cast: Jo Woo-Jin, Lee Jae-In, Jin Kyung, Kim Ji-Ho, Jun Suk-Ho, Ji Chang-Wook, Haerry Kim Running Time: 94 min. By Henry McKeand The best Korean thrillers are successful because they push traditional genre elements to new extremes, creating violent psychodramas that value intensity above all else. These films often have runtimes of at least two hours, but there’s almost zero room for Hollywood sentimentality or warmed-over narrative … Continue reading →

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