If there’s ever a case to be made to support a film that truly pays homage to classic action movies of the 80s and 90s, I can point to a few creatives out there in the world who can actually capture that aesthetic. Aussie director Adrian Castro has certainly proven ample in that effort in his collaborations with burgeoning independent film star Maria Tran (Echo 8) on projects like the “Tiger Cop” concept trailers and shorts they’ve done over the years.
Currently, you can sample those ideas and more at Castro’s Fideo Films YouTube channel where the duo have also just unveiled their latest concept trailer for Dragon Fire, pitting Tran and her fellow Phoenix Eye cohorts Takashi Hara and Therese Chen squarely in a gritty, Hong Kong action-inspired tale of vengeance that looks like something right out of today’s Vingear Syndrome genre catalogue.
A Sydney police detective races against time to save her family taken hostage by a mysterious terrorist from her past, who plans to take over the city by force.
Castro nails it. Just about everything from the music and audio to the grainy footage, edits, tones and nuances. You can gather as much that all he needs are committed investors to back him and his team to create to help apply these aesthetics onto a much larger feature film canvas.
If and when that day comes, I’d like to be around not only to see it, but to report on it. When it comes to throwback action and nostalgia, Castro is one of the best to ever do it. If you don’t believe me, then believe your eyes and watch the trailer below.
