Two Asian Blokes

Welcome back to Mo-Vember 2026, where for the month of November we're celebrating Indonesian cinema with four films from two of the country's most exciting genre filmmakers, Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel, collectively known as The Mo Brothers. Every week we're revisiting one of their films and exploring what makes Indonesian genre cinema so gloriously brutal, bloody and entertaining.This week we're turning to May the Devil Take You (2018), a supernatural horror film from Timo Tjahjanto, best known for his outrageously gory action movies Headshot and The Night Comes for Us, as well as his work with Kimo Stamboel. Also known by its Indonesian title, Sebelum Iblis Menjemput, this is Timo doing what he does best: unleashing absolute chaos on a group of very unfortunate people.The story follows Alfie (Chelsea Islan), a young woman searching for answers after her estranged father falls mysteriously ill. When she visits his old family villa, she discovers a disturbing connection to his past involving a deal with the devil. But as the family gathers at the property, something sinister begins to emerge, turning their visit into a fight for survival.Starring Chelsea Islan, Pevita Pearce, Ray Sahetapy and Karina Suwandi, May the Devil Take You is a wonderfully entertaining horror ride packed with familiar genre tropes, demonic possession, haunted-house scares, inventive special effects and plenty of gloriously nasty gore. Think classic supernatural horror, with Timo Tjahjanto turning the blood and bodily fluids up to eleven.In this review, we discuss the film's satanic pact, its familiar horror conventions, the special effects, the questionable decisions made by characters in classic horror-movie fashion, and all the haunted-house madness. We also get into the film's increasingly outrageous final act and whether Timo manages to make all these familiar horror ingredients work together.Is May the Devil Take You a fun, popcorn-friendly Indonesian horror movie? Does it deliver the goods for fans of supernatural horror and gore? And just how much disgusting imagery can we tolerate before we finally lose our lunch?🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokeshttps://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1⏱️ Chapters00:00 May the Devil Take You Review (A Pretty Easy Watch*)02:33 A Deal with the Devil04:29 Fun Horror Tropes09:30 Cool Special Effects11:00 Classic Horror Movie Decision-Making14:25 Haunted House Stuff17:00 The Final ActAn easy watch for Thavy and Danh, who have a pretty strong stomach for nasty imagery. Your mileage may vary.💬 Have you seen May the Devil Take You? What did you think? Are you a fan of Timo Tjahjanto's horror movies, or do you prefer his bloody martial arts action films like Headshot and The Night Comes for Us? What's your favourite Indonesian horror movie?Let us know in the comments, or contact us at [email protected] to Two Asian Blokes for more reviews and discussions about Indonesian horror, Asian cinema, martial arts films, Hong Kong action, Korean movies, anime, Asian pop culture and whatever else we've decided to spend two hours arguing about.📧 Email: [email protected]📱 Instagram: @twoasianblokes▶️ YouTube: @twoasianblokes#MayTheDevilTakeYou #TimoTjahjanto #IndonesianHorror #HorrorMovieReview #HorrorMovies

Welcome to  Mo-Vember 2026, where for the month of November we're celebrating Indonesian cinema with four films from two of the country's most exciting genre filmmakers, Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel, collectively known as The Mo Brothers. Every week we'll be revisiting one of their films and exploring what makes Indonesian genre cinema so gloriously brutal, bloody and entertaining.We're kicking things off with Headshot (2016), a bone-crunching Indonesian martial arts action thriller starring Iko Uwais, best known for his incredible performances in The Raid and The Raid 2. The story follows a mysterious man who washes ashore with a gunshot wound to the head. After waking from a coma with no memory of his identity or past, he's nursed back to health by a young doctor named Ailin (Chelsea Islan), who gives him the name Ishmael. But when Ailin is kidnapped by a ruthless criminal syndicate led by Lee (Sunny Pang), Ishmael's violent past comes crashing back, and he'll have to fight his way through an army of deadly opponents to save her.Directed by The Mo Brothers (Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel), and featuring Julie Estelle, Very Tri Yulisman and a whole lot of extremely unfortunate henchmen, Headshot is a showcase for Indonesian action cinema and the explosive fighting style of pencak silat. With brutally choreographed hand-to-hand combat, inventive fight sequences and enough gore to keep the blood banks busy, it's easy to see the DNA that would eventually lead to Timo Tjahjanto's The Night Comes for Us.In this review, we discuss the story and production, the cast and characters, the film's gloriously gory action, our favourite fight scenes and, of course, the all-important boss fight. We also explore how Headshot fits into the wider filmography of The Mo Brothers and the modern Indonesian martial arts action genre.Does Headshot hold up as one of the great Indonesian action movies? How does Iko Uwais compare to his performances in The Raid and The Raid 2? And is this the perfect way to kick off  Mo-Vember?🔔SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokeshttps://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1⏱️ Chapters00:00 Introducing the Mo Brothers – Happy Mo-Vember!01:16 Headshot (2016)02:31 Story and Production04:35 A Gory Action Thriller06:42 The Cool Characters09:48 The Amazing Action14:35 Favourite Fight Scenes18:12 The Boss Fight21:55 Final Thoughts💬 What do you think of Headshot? Is it one of the best Indonesian action movies? How does it compare to The Raid, The Raid 2 and The Night Comes for Us? And what's your favourite film from The Mo Brothers?Let us know in the comments, or contact us at [email protected] to Two Asian Blokes for more reviews and discussions about Indonesian cinema, Asian action movies, martial arts films, Hong Kong cinema, Korean movies, horror, anime, Asian pop culture and whatever else we've decided to spend two hours arguing about.📧 Email: [email protected]  📱 Instagram: @twoasianblokes  ▶️ YouTube: @twoasianblokes#Headshot #IkoUwais #TheMoBrothers #IndonesianCinema #MartialArtsMovies

Is Joko Anwar's Ghost in the Cell one of the most gloriously unhinged horror movies of the year? The Indonesian filmmaker behind Satan's Slaves and Impetigore is back with Ghost in the Cell (2026), a prison-set horror-comedy that combines grotesque gore, supernatural terror, absurd humour and some very pointed commentary on governmental corruption in Indonesia.When mysterious and increasingly gruesome deaths begin spreading through a prison, the inmates have more to worry about than rival gangs and corrupt officials. There's something far more sinister lurking behind bars, and surviving might require a little more than keeping your head down.In this episode of Two Asian Blokes, we review Ghost in the Cell, discussing its colourful cast of characters, outrageously inventive gore, blend of horror and comedy, and the role of ghosts and religion in Indonesian culture. We also dig into the film's political satire and its criticism of corruption within Indonesia's government and institutions.But how well does Joko Anwar balance the horror with the comedy? Does all that bloodshed serve a greater purpose, or are we just two blokes with questionable thresholds for disgusting imagery? And is Ghost in the Cell really an easy watch?Well, it's an easy watch for Thavy and Danh. If you have a stronger gag reflex than we do, your mileage may vary. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokeshttps://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 The Start (Happy Halloween)02:29 Ghost in the Cell (Spoiler-Free)04:30 The Plot06:01 The Cast and Characters08:39 Outstanding Gore10:43 Horror Comedy14:47 Ghosts and Religion16:22 The Theme of Governmental Corruption in Indonesia18:34 An Easy Watch*20:16 SPOILERS31:19 Final Thoughts⚠️ SPOILERS BEGIN AT 20:16.Have you seen Ghost in the Cell? What did you think of its blend of gruesome horror, comedy and political commentary? And where does Joko Anwar rank among Indonesia's best genre filmmakers?Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes for more reviews and discussions about Asian cinema, Indonesian horror, Korean movies, Hong Kong action, martial arts films, anime, Asian pop culture and whatever else we've decided to spend two hours arguing about.Got a film, interview, collaboration or general nonsense you want to send our way?Email: [email protected]: @twoasianblokesYouTube: @twoasianblokes#GhostInTheCell #JokoAnwar #IndonesianHorror

Is Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil the best live-action adaptation of Capcom’s legendary survival horror franchise? Or is it just not Resident Evil enough?The new Resident Evil (2026) movie has already sparked plenty of debate. Some fans have criticised Zach Cregger’s take for straying too far from the games, while others reckon there are too many jokes in a franchise built around zombies, grotesque monsters and people with an alarming inability to conserve ammunition.But how does it actually stack up against the Resident Evil adaptations that came before it?In this episode of Two Asian Blokes, we review Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, discussing his interpretation of the iconic survival horror series, whether the film captures the spirit of the games, the creature design, the Easter eggs and Bryan’s role as our unlikely hero.We also look back at the franchise’s long and occasionally painful history on screen. From Paul W. S. Anderson’s gloriously silly live-action movies, to Capcom’s often forgettable CGI films, to the much-maligned Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City and Netflix’s ill-fated Resident Evil television series… the bar has certainly been set at some interesting heights.Does Cregger finally deliver a Resident Evil movie that works? Is it actually the best live-action entry in the franchise? And do the jokes undermine the horror, or are fans taking things a little too seriously?🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokeshttps://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=100:00 The Start (Thavy Has T-Virus)04:27 Resident Evil Review (Spoiler-Free)08:00 Zach Cregger’s Interpretation10:42 Is It Resident Evil Enough?14:47 Bryan as Our Hero16:57 The Creature Design18:42 Probably the Best Live-Action Resident Evil20:26 Easter Eggs and Criticisms26:19 SPOILERS47:24 Final ThoughtsAre you a fan of Resident Evil? What's you're favourite movie? What's your favourite game?Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes for more reviews and discussions about Asian cinema, Korean movies, Hong Kong action, martial arts films, anime, Asian pop culture and whatever else we've decided to spend two hours arguing about.Got a film, interview, collaboration or general nonsense you want to send our way?Email: [email protected]: @twoasianblokesYouTube: @twoasianblokes#ResidentEvil #ResidentEvil2026 #MovieReview

Na Hong-jin has returned with Hope - a uniquely Korean interpretation of a big alien spectacle blockbuster.The director behind The Chaser, The Yellow Sea and The Wailing has made something considerably bigger, louder and more… fun? than his previous films. Hope is an alien invasion action thriller with a surprisingly blockbuster-sized ambition, a bunch of very funny characters, plenty of Korean swearing, some impressive practical effects and some pretty questionable CGI.We watched Hope in 4DX, while Thavy also experienced it in IMAX, so naturally we had to discuss whether being physically thrown around by your cinema chair makes an already ridiculous movie even better.But underneath all the aliens, explosions and questionable digital creatures, what do we actually think of Hope? We talk about the performances from Hwang Jung-min, Jung Ho-yeon and Jo In-sung, the personality of the film, Na Hong-jin's very different approach to blockbuster filmmaking, and whether Hope has anything deeper going on beneath all the chaos.We also discuss the curious amount of attention given to the film's Western stars, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, and whether the international media focus on them really reflects what makes this movie interesting.And yes… we talk about the CGI.So where does Hope rank alongside The Chaser, The Yellow Sea and The Wailing in Na Hong-jin's small but highly regarded filmography?Let's discuss.SPOILERS BEGIN AT 35:23.TIMECODES00:00 The Start (Thavy's Back!) 03:52 Hope — Spoiler-Free Review 05:11 The Synopsis (Aliens!) 07:32 The Actors — Ho-yeon, Jung-min & In-sung 09:22 Na Hong-jin's Previous Works 11:45 The Funny Characters 13:27 The Practical Effects 14:58 The 4DX Experience 17:26 The Critical Response 22:23 The Swearing 24:30 The CGI Monsters 27:08 Just a Fun Movie… or Something More? 29:19 Is a Sequel in the Works? 31:52 Better Than Avatar? 35:23 SPOILERS BEGIN 1:10:28 Final ThoughtsHave you seen Hope? Let us know where you think it ranks among Na Hong-jin's films — and whether the CGI really is as questionable as we think.Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes for more reviews and discussions about Asian cinema, Korean movies, Hong Kong action, martial arts films, anime, Asian pop culture and whatever else we've decided to spend two hours arguing about.👉 Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes: https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1Got a film, interview, collaboration or general nonsense you want to send our way?Email: [email protected] Instagram: @twoasianblokes YouTube: @twoasianblokes#Hope #NaHongJin #KoreanCinema #KoreanMovies #HwangJungMin #JungHoYeon #JoInSung #MichaelFassbender #AliciaVikander #TwoAsianBlokes

In Part 2 of our interview with James Pax, we’re putting some of the biggest martial arts and action stars of the 70s, 80s and 90s into a tier list - and James is not holding back.You probably know James Pax best as Lightning from Big Trouble in Little China, but that’s just one chapter of a career spanning more than 40 years. James has worked as an actor and filmmaker across the US, Hong Kong, China and Japan, and has been studying martial arts since childhood. Along the way, he’s worked on film sets with some of the very people we’re talking about here, giving him a perspective on martial arts cinema that you simply don’t get from watching the movies alone.So what does James really think of Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Michelle Yeoh, Wesley Snipes, Jason Statham, Tony Jaa, Donnie Yen, Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee?There’s plenty of love for some of these legends. There are a few surprises. From breaking of contracts to on-set rudeness, James has some industry stories and behind-the-scenes insight that might make you look at some of your favourite action stars a little differently.Whether you grew up on Hong Kong action cinema, 80s martial arts movies, 90s action stars or just love a good old-fashioned Tier List argument, this one is for you.TIMECODES00:00 The Start00:47 Jackie Chan01:12 Jet Li05:26 Jean-Claude Van Damme06:26 Sammo Hung11:39 Morgan Freeman15:49 Yuen Biao16:48 Keanu Reeves18:54 Michelle Yeoh20:23 Wesley Snipes21:36 Jason Statham25:26 Tony Jaa27:46 Donnie Yen32:29 Chuck Norris34:28 Bruce Lee36:22 James PaxWant to hear more from James??James Pax will be appearing LIVE at the Astor Theatre on November 21st for a special Big Trouble in Little China 40th Anniversary event, featuring a screening, Q&A and the opportunity to meet James in person.Tickets are available now:https://kungfulegends.com/australiaABOUT TWO ASIAN BLOKESTwo Asian Blokes is an Australian podcast and YouTube channel shining a spotlight on Asian cinema and pop culture through a uniquely Asian-Australian lens. We talk Hong Kong action, martial arts movies, Asian films and TV, Hollywood's attempts at Asian cinema, and pretty much anything else we can find an excuse to talk about.Subscribe to Two Asian Blokes:https://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1Got a film, interview, collaboration or general nonsense you want to send our way?Email: [email protected]: @twoasianblokesYouTube: @twoasianblokes#JamesPax #MartialArts #MartialArtsMovies #JackieChan #JetLi #BruceLee #DonnieYen #MichelleYeoh #HongKongCinema #ActionMovies #BigTroubleInLittleChina #TwoAsianBlokes

Video version -- https://youtu.be/r6Cf1JA97zEJames Pax AKA Lightning from Big Trouble in Little China joins us once again, this time to break down four of his most iconic characters including his roles in Big Trouble in Little China, The Heroic Trio, Remains of a Woman, and Nasty Boys.Don't miss the upcoming double screening of Big Trouble in Little China and The Heroic Trio at the Astor Theatre in Melbourne on Saturday November 21st.Tickets and info: https://kungfulegends.com/australia00:00 About James Pax05:11 Big Trouble in Little China LIGHTNING11:57 The Heroic Trio THE PROFESSOR17:38 Remains of a Woman BILLY CHAN25:22 Nasty Boys JIMMY KEEDon't miss Part 2 where James helps us put some of the best martial arts actors of all time into a tier list, while dishing out some tea at the same time.🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokeshttps://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1📩 Email us: [email protected]👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to discuss movies, anime, and pop culture.🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes#bigtroubleinlittlechina #theheroictrio #hongkongmovie #johncarpenter

In this episode of Two Asian Blokes we finally get around to reviewing The Furious - one of our most anticipated films of this year.The Furious is a HK produced martial arts film, directed by Japanese director Kenji Tanigaki, with action direction from Kensuke Sonomura, and an international cast - Xie Miao (Hunt the Wicked), Joe Taslim (The Night Comes for Us), Joey Iwanaga (Baby Assassins 2), Yayan Ruhian (The Raid) and Brian Le (Everything, Everywhere, All at Once). Filmed in Thailand by a predominantly Thai film crew and a Japanese stunt crew, this movie blends all flavours of Asian action cinema into one beautiful and adrenaline-fueled package.Despite the movie being predominantly in English, this movie inexplicably did not get an Australian cinema release, much to our frustration.However, let me tell you - The Furious was worth the wait. If you are a fan of action cinema and martial arts cinema, you've probably already watched it and developed your opinions.But here are our thoughts.🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokeshttps://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=100:00 The Start04:09 The Furious spoiler review10:11 Good to see JeeJa Yanin13:57 Sonomura's action16:39 Some criticisms22:38 JeeJa's fight and the abduction26:48 The club fight31:12 Joe Taslim vs Xie Miao33:01 Brian Le vs Joe and Xie36:15 The Snake Pit41:30 The Royal Rumble47:46 Joe Taslim's revenge52:43 The final showdown56:33 Final thoughts💬 What did you think of The Furious?📩 Email us: [email protected]👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to discuss movies, anime, and pop culture.🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes#thefurious #martialarts #actionmovies #kungfu #martialartsmovies #moviereview 

🎬 JAMES PAX IS COMING TO MELBOURNE!On Saturday, August 29, James Pax - aka Lightning from Big Trouble in Little China - is bringing a special retrospective double feature to The Astor Theatre in Melbourne, featuring Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and The Heroic Trio (1993).The event includes live Q&As, meet & greet opportunities, autograph sessions and VIP experiences with James.🎟️ Tickets are on sale now:https://kungfulegends.com/australiaBOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW — WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE ASTOR!In this special episode of Two Asian Blokes, Danh and Thavy sit down with James Pax to talk about his incredible career across Hollywood and Hong Kong cinema.Watch the video -- https://youtu.be/y576tOCi3_cJames takes us behind the scenes of Big Trouble in Little China, including his experience playing Lightning, working with director John Carpenter, and what it was like working alongside Kurt Russell.We also dive into The Heroic Trio, James' experience working in Hong Kong compared with Hollywood, and his thoughts on the golden era of Hong Kong action cinema.James also shares his favourite martial arts movies, his thoughts on what makes a film become a cult classic, and his approach to action choreography after decades of working in the genre.Finally, we talk about James' upcoming action film Vortex, where he steps behind the camera as director and brings his experience from Hollywood and Asian cinema into his latest project.If you're a fan of Big Trouble in Little China, The Heroic Trio, Hong Kong action movies, martial arts cinema, John Carpenter, Michelle Yeoh, cult movies or classic action films, this is an episode you won't want to miss.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Lightning is coming to Australia!03:52 James talks Big Trouble in Little China16:21 James talks The Heroic Trio28:04 James talks Vortex33:36 James' upcoming Melbourne retrospective🎬 JAMES PAX RETROSPECTIVE — MELBOURNE📅 Saturday, August 29📍 The Astor Theatre, Melbourne🎞️ Big Trouble in Little China + The Heroic Trio🎤 Live Q&A with James Pax🤝 Meet & Greet⭐ VIP Experiences🎟️ Tickets & information:https://kungfulegends.com/australia Two Asian Blokes is a podcast celebrating Asian cinema, Asian representation and the movies we love, from Hong Kong action classics to Hollywood blockbusters and everything in between.If you enjoyed the episode, like, subscribe and let us know in the comments what your favourite James Pax performance is.#JamesPax #BigTroubleInLittleChina #TheHeroicTrio #HongKongCinema #MartialArtsMovies #JohnCarpenter #CultMovies #ActionMovies #TwoAsianBlokes

We're wrapping up John Woo-LY 2026 with what many consider to be the definitive John Woo film: The Killer (1989).This isn't just another great Hong Kong action movie. It's arguably the purest expression of John Woo's creative vision—the film where he had almost complete artistic control from start to finish, refining everything that made him one of the most influential action directors of all time. Heroic Bloodshed. Dual pistols. Slow motion. Brotherhood. Betrayal. White doves. It's all here.And it's an absolute banger.In fact, The Killer is so good that we felt it deserved its own dedicated episode, even though we already talked about it while reviewing John Woo's 2024 American remake. (Let's just pretend that one never happened.)Starring Chow Yun-fat as the legendary assassin Ah Jong alongside Danny Lee and Sally Yeh in her final film role, The Killer follows a hitman determined to make amends after accidentally blinding an innocent nightclub singer during one of his assignments. As rival gangs, corrupt cops, and old loyalties begin to close in around him, the lines between hero and villain become increasingly blurred.In this review, we discuss John Woo's love of French cinema, his famously unconventional filmmaking process, the influence of The Killer on action cinema around the world, the film's exploration of honour, loyalty, and redemption, and why many still regard it as the greatest Heroic Bloodshed film ever made.Is The Killer not only John Woo's masterpiece, but one of the greatest action films ever made?If you enjoy movie reviews, Hong Kong cinema, action films, and Asian pop culture, check out our weekly podcast, Two Asian Blokes, where we chat about films, TV, and vaguely Asian stuff.🔔 SUBSCRIBE to Two Asian Blokeshttps://www.youtube.com/@twoasianblokes?sub_confirmation=1⏱️ Chapters00:00 The Killer (1989) – The Original Masterpiece01:34 John Woo's Love of French Cinema03:06 The Killer Plot Overview04:37 Sally Yeh's Final Film Role05:47 John Woo's Wild Filmmaking Process08:13 The Unusual Musical Choices09:55 The Most John Woo Film Ever Made?12:49 Hong Kong vs Hollywood Filmmaking14:11 Brotherhood, Loyalty & Betrayal15:36 The Villain17:13 Blurring the Moral Lines19:20 John Woo's Philosophy21:33 The Tragic Ending💬 What do you think of The Killer? Is this John Woo's greatest film, or do you prefer A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled, Bullet in the Head, or another classic?📩 Email us: [email protected]👥 Join the Friends of Two Asian Blokes Facebook group to discuss movies, anime, and pop culture.🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.📱 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @twoasianblokes#TheKiller #JohnWoo #ChowYunFat #HongKongCinema #HeroicBloodshed #MovieReview