SLUG STREET SCRAPPERS: REGEN Review: …For The Fans, With Room For More

Cult independent hit webseries, “Slug Street Scrappers,” was one of the first major projects that landed on my radar when I first launched this platform. Previously a four-part endeavor steered by Micah Brock as actor, martial artist and chief director by 2014, the show galvanized a community of action actors and stunt talents for a collaborative production set in fantasy, and inspired by 80s video gaming and sci-fi aesthetics.

Par for the course was the film’s tournament setting, with leading man Brock’s role of the self-assured and seemingly unbeatable Muay Thai pugilist, Bruiser Bom-Bash. Joined by the likes of co-creative and actor Shaun Charney, as well as Katelyn Brooke and Anna Ranoso among others, the story surrounds a line-up of fighters competing for the title of “Toughest In Town,” who find themselves entrenched in conspiracy by darker, supernatural forces.

That contention came to a head in the hourlong “Slug Street Scrappers: Goodbye Goddess,” in what was previously understood to be the finale at the time. Fast forward a decade later, and color me surprised when Brock revealed in 2022 that a new chapter was in the works, reviving the titular tournament in Slug Street Scrappers: Regen with a mostly new fight roster, and a new villain to boot.

Set twenty years after the events of the webseries, Bruiser is now a dad, rasing daughter and boxing prospect Bella (Rexie Royal) who herself has secret aspirations to claim the title of “Toughest In Town”. Her first fight with feisty Taekwondo proponent, Moxie (Pearl Keys), finds the two striking a friendship post-match as the tournament commences with fighters abound.

What remains to be seen is the extent of their friendship and the real purpose of Moxie’s involvement, however. Coupled with the intermittent skullduggery of the tournament’s corporate stewards, the Clark Corporation, Bruiser’s comrade in arms and frequent rival, Ryuken Kazama (Shaun Charney) soon makes his return to the Scrappers’ fray to solve some mysteries of his own. Little does Ryuken know that the answers he seeks may bring about more than just a decisive boss match for another tournament, revealing an even bigger threat on the horizon for everyone, including Bruiser who isn’t even competing.

This bodes as a rewarding add-on to the pre-existing series in several ways, characteristic of many of the same attributes as the series while delivering some suprising and even hilarious twists to add another layer to Brock’s indie fantasy martial arts canon. One of these is a bit of a footnote used to explain many of the characters’ youthful appearances despite being older since the last tournament.

Fans who follow stunt and independent action environs will gladly spot some familiar faces in the prologue flashing back to the inaugural webseries, including the aforementioned Ranoso who returns as the fast and ebullient ninja, “Venom”. New editions further include PeiPei Alena Yuan as enforcer, “Siren”, and Mason Sharrow as agent “Sammy,” with co-stars Jerry Quill, Ronin Skai and Jacob Roark serving slightly larger roles in the scheme of things; The cast also sees a few other fighters doubled by actors in masks, with characters like “Goblin,” “Super Scrapper Fred,” and “Clark Rep” in the mix.

The acting and performances generally measure about the same as what fans have seen in the webseries, catering to its intended demographic. It’s goofy and a little hammy at times, while tonally suited to the film’s more serious elements when needed, and characteristic of the continuity Brock and his team focus on in weaving together their tapestry. The same relatively goes for the action, feasibly designed by Brock and Charney, presenting stylish choreography with careful precision that doesn’t take as many risks as before, but still hits as hard as fans of the webseries might hope.

Completed in part with a loyal Indiegogo backing, Slug Street Scrappers: Regen isn’t a huge visual advancement for its two-hour duration, save for some augmentations to bring the film its intended quality. Additionally, a few of the characters that do appear are never seen or heard from again as the story progresses, leaving a little to be desired in terms of their purpose in the first place. Overall though, Brock’s latest is a safe bet for anyone familiar with his work and an affinity for independent action, and does proffer some upscaling in areas of story and world building. With any luck, a hopeful follow-up might bring some of these aforementioned characters full circle.

A myriad cadre of oddball characters, fashionable costumes, frothy comedy and crisp fight choreography, all attuned to an ambient, neon-colored, new retro wave throwback timbre for its audience is what you can expect for the most part with Slug Street Scrappers: Regen, particularly if you’re new to the IP. For others, Brock’s new movie is a palpable and promising lo-fi sequel that co-signs with potential for more growth, and an endearing and posthumous send-off to one of the community’s finest.

Slug Street Scrappers: Regen is a Whirlwind Action production, and is currently set for a late 2025 release TBA.