Turbo Kid

[areaseven]

Turbo Kid

EMA Films/Timpson Films/Epic Pictures Group, 2015

Written and Directed by François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell

Running Time: 95 minutes

Rated R for extreme violence and profanity.

Cast

Munro Chambers as The Kid

Laurence Leboeuf as Apple

Michael Ironside (Richter in Total Recall, Katana in Highlander II) as Zeus

Edwin Wright as Skeletron

Aaron Jeffery (Thomas Logan in X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Frederick

Romano Orzari as Bagu

Synopsis

It is the year 1997. Wars and nuclear fallout have created a post-apocalyptic society called "The Wasteland", ruled by the tyrannical Zeus. A lone teenage scavenger known only as The Kid spends his days riding his BMX bike and trading junk for supplies and issues of Turbo Rider, a comic book from the old civilization. One day, he meets a girl named Apple and reluctantly brings her to scavenging trips after she entraps him with a tracking device. But after Apple is kidnapped by a bandit, The Kid stumbles upon a crashed ship, where he discovers and puts on the suit of his childhood hero. Using his new abilities, Turbo Kid races to save his girl from execution at the hands of Zeus.

Lowdown

Much like Kung Fury, Turbo Kid is a love letter to the '80s - particularly the action and sci-fi B-movies of that decade. The sets look simple, the cinematography feels like a Cannon film, the costumes are loud in color, and the acting is over the top. Being also a tribute to Peter Jackson's earlier works, this film is an extreme splatter fest that rivals Bad Taste and perhaps even Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky. The CG effects add to the overall cheesiness. Of all the cast members, Laurence Labeouf steals the show as Apple, a rather schizophrenic girl with Jem hair and makeup. Michael Ironside really hams it up as the main antagonist Zeus.

But if there's one thing that seals the deal, it's the music. The synthpop score by Le Matos is simply mesmerizing, with shades of John Carpenter and Jan Hammer. It easily rivals Mitch Murder and Lost Years' works for Kung Fury.

The cast of Turbo Kid know it's silly, but they just roll with it. And in the end, it comes off as one of the most rad movies to come from the independent scene.

Rating: A-

Links

Official Turbo Kid Website

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88% - "A nostalgic ode to kids' movies of yesteryear, Turbo Kid eyes the past through an entertaining -- albeit surprisingly gory -- postmodern lens."

References

The Internet Movie Database

Edited August 9, 2016 by areaseven

[Big s]

I saw this as soon as it appeared on Netflix and loved it. It's so over the top with blood and gore and aggression, but with a light hearted and happy tone. I really think Apple steals the show with every extremely joyous reaction to the horrible world around her.

[Black Valkyrie]

Another 80s nostalgia, excellent far out dude.

[mikeszekely]

Am I the only one disappointed that this isn't a live-action adaptation of Turbo Teen?

[areaseven]

Now this is how you make a post-apocalyptic chase scene if you don't have a Mad Max budget.

[Big s]

You gotta do what you can if ya got no guzzaline.

[areaseven]

That soundtrack...

Edited August 9, 2016 by areaseven

[JB0]

Am I the only one disappointed that this isn't a live-action adaptation of Turbo Teen?

Not at all.