Nightblade (2017)
Matt Boiselle
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Starring Jim O’Rear, Scott Tepperman, Todd Bridges
Directed by Jim O’Rear and Scott Tepperman
Who says gritty, grimy, sleazy and slimy cop movies can’t be fun all along the way? From co-directors Jim O’Rear and Scott Tepperman (affectionately known as Los Bastardz Productions) comes Nightblade, a crime-thriller that echoes an 80’s sentiment, while delivering some pretty decent laughs along the way.
Following the tragic loss of both his wife and daughter, a dishonored police detective named Andy (Tepperman) ditches his old profession to take up a new one at the request of his seedy pal, Nicky (O’Rear) – the job, you ask? Well, turns out Andy will be the new co-manager of The Pleasure Dome: a less-than-desirable establishment that houses exotic dancers…ah hell, it’s a strip club! The attempt to keep Nicky’s criminalistic activities on the down-low is an honorable one, and it would be even more of a success story if Nicky were an honorable person. In any event, Andy’s got a new job, one that hopefully will take his mind off of past traumas, that is until some of his scantily-clad employees begin to turn up all over town cut up like origami projects – could there be a new Jack The Ripper on the loose? Help is desperately needed, and who you gonna call? Better yet, what you talkin about, Willis? Yes sir, Mr. Todd Bridges comes in guns-a-blazing as Detective Francesco, and I know what you’re thinking: just what in the blue hell is going on here? Good question indeed, but actually the film itself is laid out in very followable fashion – former friends on opposite sides of the law brought back together to combat a serial killer wiping out some valuable commodities…now if someone could only figure out who in tarnation is slaying the chesty lasses, we’d be all set.
While the film does its damndest to mirror the 1980’s cop-show/movie etiquette, with its pastel colors and “Miami Vice”-like bravado, one negative point here (for me at least) was the severe depletion in the gore department. Hey, if someone is claiming to have that “slice-and-dice” attitude, you’d better prepare to shower me in crimson…or at least splash a little bit around. Performances were solid, with both O’Rear and Betsy Rue commanding the most attention for their characters. Perennial tattooed tough guy Robert Lasardo holds down his role like he always does: intimidating, convincing, and generally someone you’d crap your britches over if he walked up on you in a dark alleyway – fine casting, gentlemen. The thrills are here, the humor is scattered (but admirable), and it all adds up to a fun watch for those looking to grab a hold of that 80’s magic…now if someone can PLEASE tell Mr. O’Rear to keep his bleached butt out of the camera shots in the future, we’d all sleep a little more soundly.
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Film
Categorized:Reviews
