FLESHBOUND HOLLOW And GOING VIRAL: Enjoy These Two Cool And New Action Shorts Now Online
Enjoy these new shortfilms from some of our favorite creators!
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THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER: Out Now on UK DVD, Blu-Ray & 4K- Review
Courtesy of Dazzler Media UK Film fans have the opportunity to support physical media and purchase the latest Horror/Action offering of the Dracula saga “The Last Voyage Of The Demeter” out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and HD. Based on the one chapter 7 in Bram Stoker’s Dracula “Captains Log” tells the story of the cursed ship and it’s passengers who transported the blood thirsty count to Whitby, London. Which is a breath of fresh air, a new story that hasn’t been done before on the screen. I had the opportunity to sit down and watch the film alongside my Horror fan dad and this is what we had to say about it. The opening of the film shows the aftermath of the shipwreck of the Demeter and the finding of the captains log. The cut to a much brighter second scene is somewhat a surprise taken that there […]
KODAMA: Samurai SWAT Battles Killer Yokai In Brian Tang’s Online Short Premiere!
Brian Tang’s phenomenal SXSW-selected samurai SWAT fantasy thriller is now online to enjoy!
IMPASSIBLE: Check Out Sebastian Kong And Virak Thun’s New Webseries Streaming For Nikon 2025
Directing duo Sébastien Kong and Virak Thun have a mini webserial entry now among the lot vying for votes of this year’s fifteenth edition of the Nikon Film Festival. The series in question? Impassible, a snackable, roughly 6 x 2″ action drama penned by Kong and Thun, and starring Steve Tran and Laura Bui, and fight sequences by Kevin Ke. Hao is in debt but has a special ability. To take the pain. He gets paid to be tortured on stream. Until one day it goes too far for his friend Liya who intervenes during a “performance”. They are hunted by Hao’s employers. The episodes are all easy to watch, and each part is shot in one take. Imaginably none of this is easy to do on one take alone, which makes you wonder how many takes there were for each part, if that, especially while filming action amid the […]
THRONE: THE LIFORIAN ODYSSEY: Witness The Birth Of ‘A Brand New Original IP’ In Aaron Toney’s Proof Of Concept Fantasy Action Pilot
In keeping up with the burgeoning potential of today’s independent film and stunt-talented creatives, Monday saw the premiere of actor and filmmaker Aaron Toney’s (Wolf Warrior 2, Debt Collectors, One More Shot) passion project, Throne: The Liforian Odyssey. The nine-minute shortfilm marks the latest phase in Toney’s proof of concept which began roughly a decade ago with the birth of a spectacular, action-packed martial arts short. “Even though this has been such a long journey, I know it’s still like, the beginning, because no one knows about this,” said Toney, who took to speaking with viewers while livestreaming the project on YouTube on Monday. “We need to go ahead and build a fanbase because, this is a brand new original IP, so we’re putting this out so that people can know that it exists.” Toney’s Thone: The Liforian Odyssey, is a continued evolution of that IP, now with updated costumes, weapons […]
@OnePerfectHEADShot Reviews 2024’s Year In Action Cinema
At times like this, I’m joyfully reminded that there are times throughout the year I get to partake in little side projects. In the case of the video below and its creator, however, I will say that it definitely isn’t so little. It’s about ninety-minutes long and comes courtesy of Kinemotions on YouTube. Folks who follow the channel also likely follow its host on social media through pseudonym, “Head Exposure,” or OnePerfectHEADShot as some of us know him, which is also how I came to be a part of the video essay below among colleagues for “The Action Year In Review – 2024,” which you can now view below. This video is a fully-loaded piece of work with rightfully credited titles galvanizing the year’s best and most memorable films of the genre. Filmmakers Liam O’Donnell and Jordan Santacana, critics and influencers like Outlaw Vern, Mike Fury, Shogun Supreme, Polygon’s Pete […]
RED ONE – A Streaming Success Review
The latest film fair from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is slightly different to his usual action packed, muscle pumping, adrenaline rushing flicks. Instead, he delivers a festive feature which all the family can enjoy. Released early last month on 6th November in theatres it didn’t go to plan as the studio hoped, with it only making $82 million domestically. I think this was down to a number of factors one – it being too early for a Christmas film and two – the decline in cinema goers which is very sad to see. Either way DJ has been saved by the millions of streamers with the film breaking Amazon prime records with a 50 million streams debut. And I was one of those millions who sat down and enjoyed the Christmas tale with a twist. Here is what I thought of it. J.K. Simmons (Santa Claus) and […]
Martial Club Revisits Martial Club With New Video Series
Andy and Brian Le are percolating a little more these days with a content-loaded return to their YouTube channel at Martial Club. The two have been busy in the film arena having since contributed to the works of directors like Bao Tran, the Daniels, Destin Daniel Cretton, Chaya Supannarat, and the late Pearry Teo to name a few while still working on some of their own in-house projects. Tentatively, that includes a short series of lookback videos of past Martial Club shortfilms including their 2020 tribute to Bruce Lee, “Fist Of Fury”. It’s a fun little dive into how they analyze their work as we stand by to see what else they have in store, so check these out below and subscribe to their channel if you haven’t already done so.
POLICE FORCE: FIRST MISSION: Vlad Rimburg And Co. Break Out The Kicks, Claws, And Old-School Ardor In The New Action Short
It’s been four years since indie creator and industry stunt professional Vlad Rimburg put out a short. The good news is that he’s been making movies for twenty years now and it’s led to a fruitful career for him as a fight choreographer and stunt coordinator and occasional actor, and with a CV that deliniates a body of work attributed inherently to his love for action films, specifically that of the Hong Kong variety. His latest labor is out now with Police Force: First Mission, laced with an all-female line-up of stunt and action performers headed by Kaila Imada and Ashley Kim, and Caitlin Hutson and Amy Sturdivant. Clocked at twelve minutes with minimal dialogue throughout – save for the intro and a cool post-credits scene – Rimburg’s latest is a cavacalde of old-school action delight, topped off with nods to JCVD-style edits woven into the narrative to add to […]
OUT OF BODY: Lestonja Diaz Takes Control In Joseph Le’s Chilling, Award-Winning Supernatural Horror Short
Stunt professional and action director Joseph Le (Everything Everywhere All At Once, “Ashoka”) remains a bookmark in who to watch going into the new year for me. In the time I’ve consumed his shortfilm work, he’s proven to be adept at telling stories beyond what’s up my alley, and his latest shortfilm project, Out Of Body, is proof of that fact. Lily seeks sexual liberation during an intimate date. But when she’s targeted by a malevolent vagrant’s spirit, her night turns into a battle for control over her own body, entwining desire, fear, and the supernatural. I’ve seen my share of long and shortform horror enough to know that these types of projects are about more than hype, gore, spectacle and jump scares. Le ekes out a little bit of these too, but with a crucial caveat in this instance with a message pertinent to things like consent and boundaries. It’s […]
DRUNKEN HOODLUM: Tristan Tern Unleashes His Deadliest Weapon Against Petty Thugs In The New Short Kung Fu Comedy
It’s been twenty years since I first began laying eyes on the indie action community online, and it still pleases me to this day that folks are gearing up and putting out some of their inspired cinematic goods. The bulk of these creatives all came up from a love of Hong Kong cinema that reflourished in the West in the last three decades and that especially goes for Tristan Tern whose latest, Drunken Hoodlum, is out now for proper viewing. This is indie shortform kung fu comedy at its continued finest, and targeted specifically to those of us who’ve kept up with the likes of Zero Gravity, Youngmasters, and Martial Club of late. Tern directs and stars in the flick and also shepherds the action, in addition to co-cinematography. Hit play below and sub to the channel to keep up with the Dragoons Prevail crew. Sharp moves, boys!
TAKEOUT TAKEDOWN!: Deliveryman José Manuel Gets Handed A Fistful In The New ASDO Action Comedy
This year saw filmmaker Joey Min and his team at Art School Dropouts make their return to the Urban Action Showcase presenting their latest indie action labor, Takeout Takedown! with actor José Manuel. The short, about a haphazard food delivery to a secret cockfighting ring, won several Bests for its presentation, including Best TV/New Media and Best Action Sequence, and is now playing online via their YouTube channel for the viewing public. To be clear, no actual chickens were harmed during the twelve-day period of this shoot. No, I wasn’t there since I live further East of the Hudson River, but I know a plush chicken toy when I see one. Enjoy the action and laughs below, as well as the behind-the-scenes of it all in an extended ASDO featurette beneath!
Streaming Sleepers: Reiki Tsuno’s MAD CATS Claws Its Way To Prime, Tubi, And More In The U.S.
Mad Cats was originally reviewed for the 29th edition of the Slamdance Film Festival. The movie was released on All-Region Blu-Ray in the UK from Third Window Films, and originally as a streaming exclusive on Midnight Pulp. If you regularly take in Asian movies, then you can certainly understand director Reiki Tsuno’s logic and motivation of late. Citing a need for Japanese filmgoing audiences to enjoy “fun movies that make you feel happy,” it comes as no surprise that he would create a film that centers its narrative on one of the most enigmatic yet culturally beloved domestic mammals, particularly in Japan. What’s impressive, of course, is the degree to which Tsuno pulls this feat off in his feature directorial debut, Mad Cats, which screens for Slamdance this weekend. Prefacing our story is an opening sequence host to an eerie hilltop with five women in white gowns, standing several feet apart […]
BABY ASSASSINS EVERYDAY!: Catch The First English-Subbed Episode Via TV Tokyo On YouTube!
The official TV Tokyo YouTube channel has begun premiering Baby Assassins Everyday!, the new series exponent of the hit film franchise from acclaimed director Yugo Sakamoto. The show returns Akari Takaishi and Saori Izawa in the lead roles of two young adults in their daily travails to sustain a living for themselves in today’s economy while working for a clandestine guild of assassins. The first episode also features actor Takuya Kusakawa in a key role for the story as it reveals the inner workings of the guild, while the show will also introduce members of Chisato’s family, and further inclinations that things will change in the fabric of the otherwise tight bond between both lethal ladies. The series also includes franchise regulars Tsubasa Tobinaga, Atomu Mizuishi, and Tomo Nakao, along with Tokio Emoto and Hirotaro Honda more to come. The show’s arrival comes following an ongoing campaign for the third […]
TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN Review: Soi Cheang Delivers A Markedly Brutal, Epic Adaptation
Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In was previously reviewed for its UK release in May. The movie is now playing in theaters in North America from Well Go USA. 12 min. read Filmmaker Soi Cheang is riding high after nabbing a trio of Bests at the 42nd edition of the Hong Kong Film Awards for his 2023 crime flick, Mad Fate. His 2009 contract killer feature, Accident, is also subject to a Korean remake pending its release this month starring Gang Dong-won. These are just a few of the recent milestones he’s reached in time for his latest thriller, Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In. Cheang has more than earned his share of ceremony, having directed and produced some of the biggest hits of the last twenty years, including an ample handful in the action arena. He reteams with actor Louis Koo who starred in Accident, and with whom he […]
GUNSLINGER MARY Goes Vertical In The New Gun-Toting Noir Short From ASDO
When duty and internal politics collide, a cop on the edge takes action into her own hands. A town plagued by scum of the underworld; an ugly, unsettling vengeance, through bullets and blood, aims to cleanse it all. This one’s a different change of pace, and a challenging venture to see if indie director Joey Min’s action directing chops can fit the mold in a vertical framework. It’s the latest from his banner at Art School Dropouts and it’s called Gunslinger Mary, with @ajkick101 herself Angela Jordan, and performances by Min along with Victor Chong, Andy To, and Hector Soria, coupled with an extra serving of Frank Miller fandom for the graphic novel-style noir appeal. Enjoy!
TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN Action Clip Sees An Unyielding Welcome Party For Raymond Lam!
By far, one of the best action thrillers you’ll see in 2024 is coming to theaters on August 9 with Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In. The Soi Cheang-directed manhwa adaptation features Raymond Lam as a loner who wanders his way into the infamous Kowloon Walled City of the 1980s and thrust into the first of many fights for his life, against the character played by Terrence Lau as previewed in the clip which you can view below. The action makes its way from the murky corridors, steps and hurdles of the City’s inner structure right until the battle lands its way into the barbershop owned by one of the City’s big bosses, played exponentially by Louis Koo. It’s a fantastic clip and a great smidgen to share with readers and the like who’ve been aching to see this one for the past year now. Its official North American theatrical […]
BYE BYE RODNEY: Andy Long Nguyen’s Nostalgic Hong Kong Style Action Short Hits Hard!
I have a dream that one day Andy Long Nguyen will collaborate with another favorite creator of mine to make the dream throwback Hong Kong action opus. The idea has been replicated aplenty in Nguyen’s “Yellow Zone” short with Can Aydin, and with the “Tiger Cop” conceptual shorts from Maria Tran and Adrian Castro. I need this. It needs to happen, and I am almost certain I am not alone here. People know people, and frankly this is a thing that needs people who know people In the meantime, Nguyen, nowadays a core fixture in today’s Jackie Chan network of stunt and film proponents, knows other people too – people like Rodney Wong, Sefa Demirbas, and Marc Oberdorfer who’ve all come together for the first of a “Andy & Sefa’s Hong Kong Adventure” webseries with Bye Bye Rodney. It’s uploaded in 4K and cooks up to three minutes with all […]
CLINCH: New Action Short Now Online!
I’m in the midst of tinkering away at some reviews and Lorenz Hideyoshi Ruuwe’s YouTube just dropped this jewel which you can now view below with Clinch. Ruuwe is joined by Rajab Hassan for a dramatic kung fu brawl choreoed by Kai Fung Rieck and directed by Alexis R. Knapps Torres, shot back in February and is now available for consumption by the masses. Enjoy!
THE CLIENT: Kamen Ramen Is Back With A New Action Short, And I’m In It!
Kamen Ramen Studios is out with a little practice action bit, and I’m inclined to do a cheeky little post about it. Hector Soria of TeamOneTake directs with key performances by Jess Drew, Abra Burkett, and Branson Bice along with a group of stunt players, and, a cameo by yours truly. Soria reached out to me about three weeks ago and asked if I wanted to help out and take part. I used my own phone and crammed myself into a small space to send him my footage. It was tricky at first but I got through it, and Soria and the bunch did the rest. The result is a bit more fun with Burkett and Drew punching people and making it look cool. Check out The Client below, and sub to Kamen Ramen below!