Movies
Here’s My Review of ‘Hardcore Henry’
I was extremely lucky to catch the World Premiere of Ilya Naishuller’s first-person actioneer Hardcore Henry when it screened in the Midnight Madness portion of the Toronto International Film Festival last September.
What I saw was a new kind of action film, starring District 9‘s Sharlto Copley, that was “filled to the brim with holy shit moments,” and puts viewers into the shoes of John McClane, Ellen Ripley, Jason Bourne, and even James Bond.
The pic takes place from the POV of Henry, who’s resurrected from death with no memory. He must discover his identity and save his wife from a warlord with a plan to bio-engineer soldiers.
Here’s some bits from my review, which can be read by clicking the above link:
As a concept it’s a bit gimmicky, but the mysterious plot and vibrant characterizations of both Jimmy and Akan keep you mentally checked in just long enough for the next “holy shit” moment.
And for a movie called ‘Hardcore Henry,’ it delivers on its promise. Naishuller blasts the audience with one of the most bloody and violent movies in the history of cinema, but manages to keep it fun (even when heads are being ripped apart).
‘Hardcore Henry’ is both the past and future of filmmaking.
Hardcore Henry is now in theaters everywhere. I recommend sitting in the back row to avoid getting motion sickness…
Produced by the late Roger Corman, the low budget sword and sorcery film Deathstalker was a hit in theaters back in 1983 and went on to become a cult classic through home video and TV airings, and it was followed by three sequels released between 1987 and 1991.
Decades later, Deathstalker will return with a fresh remake, and Variety has shared a first look image from director Steven Kostanski’s (The Void, PG: Psycho Goreman) new movie.
The website notes that the Deathstalker remake is now filming in Canada, with Raven Banner Entertainment launching sales in Cannes. Daniel Bernhardt (John Wick, Nobody, Barry) will star as the titular Deathstalker in what’s being described as “a newly reimagined installment of the cult sword and sorcery series of the same name.”
Written and directed by Kostanski, Bernhardt will portray the barbarian who finds himself cursed by a magical talisman that draws him into conflict with a malevolent wizard and a clan of monstrous assassins.
The original films were produced by Roger Corman throughout the 1980s and capitalized on the popularity of John Milius’ Conan the Barbarian with a similar collision of pulp fantasy and lurid excess. Kostanski’s new vision promises a greater emphasis on exploring the series’ fantasy setting and filling it with monsters that will be largely realized through the director’s signature combination of creature suits, prosthetic FX make-up, and stop-motion animation. These effects are courtesy of the director’s newly minted Action Pants FX shop, which recently completed work on Kostanski’s upcoming horror-comedy Frankie Freako.
“The Deathstalker universe is such a fun sandbox to play in,” said Steven Kostanski, “Every installment has played so fast and loose with its lore, which means that there’s no limit to my imagination when it comes to what I can pit Deathstalker against.”
Deathstalker is being produced by Hangar 18 Media with Pasha Patriki, Avi Federgreen, and Michael Pazst producing, with Executive Producers Andrew Thomas Hunt, James Fler, Josh Viola, and Peter Kuplowsky, alongside Slash and Rodrigo Gudiño of Berserkergang Films, with Associate Producer Scott Weatherall and Co-Producer Melissa A. Smith.
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