tacfest 2026

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TACFEST 2026: LUGER Review: A Gritty Spanish Road Movie Charging into the Toledo Action Film Festival”

Bruno Martín’s directorial debut is, quite simply, a revelation. If talent were measured by commercial success, this film would be dominating the domestic box office. However, we live in a world as imperfect as the one reflected in this frantic road movie.   The story puts us in the passenger seat with two peculiar friends who make a living “fixing” problems on the wrong side of the law. What starts as a simple search for a stolen car quickly spirals, complicating their lives in the worst ways imaginable.   Luger is a showcase of raw talent that completely overshadows its modest budget. Featuring a screenplay that never stops surprising and relentless direction that gives the audience no room to breathe, the film is anchored by a perfectly synchronized cast that brings total credibility to the chaos. The film is gritty, hilarious, violent, and above all, hypnotic—it hooks you from the […]

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TACFEST 2026: NAK MUAY (Short Film) Review: The Truth Behind the Clinch

I spent the entire twenty minutes of this short film wondering if the protagonist was indeed the one and only Yod Suablak. The final credits confirmed it: the Muay Thai Warrior now competing in ONE Championship was the face on screen. While I respect the big-name Western fight promotions, there is something uniquely captivating about the blend of styles and the raw energy ONE brings from Asia. As a lifelong devotee of Muay Thai, Nak Muay (the Thai term for a Muay Thai practitioner) struck a chord from the very first frame. Suablak, maintaining the same stoic expression he wears when entering the cage, plays a fictionalized version of himself: a fighter caught in the “victory trap.” He depicts a world where a human being is reduced to a commodity, circled by predatory “hyenas” waiting to exploit his success. Suablak may not be aiming for an Oscar, but he delivers […]

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TACFEST 2026: SUPER COURIER Review: From Kazakhstan to Hong Kong, Timur Baktybayev Revives the Jackie Chan Spirit

With Kung Fu Rookie, Timur Baktybayev introduced himself to the world via an undercover remake of Jackie Chan’s classic RUMBLE IN THE BRONX. It was a humble take on the classic, yet it captured the right essence, with the Kazakh actor mimicking the “Hong Kong Tornado” by replicating his every move and camera mannerism. There is no doubt that Chan is his idol and that Baktybayev knows his filmography by heart. However, despite that film’s indisputable quality, there is little virtue in pure imitation. It is difficult to carve out a name for yourself while standing in the shadow of a legend—especially someone like Chan, who acts as a total eclipse to anyone standing before him. That is why Super Courier feels like a genuine step forward for Baktybayev, who not only stars in the film but also serves as its producer. The influence of Jackie Chan and classic Hong […]

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