Secretary (2002) | Cult Dark Romantic Comedy Review | VHSSB

Susan sends us to Brooklyn this week for She’s Gotta Have It, the 1986 comedy-drama that launched Spike Lee. He wrote, directed, produced and edited it, and it only exists because his previous project, a bike-messenger film called Messenger, collapsed in 1984 when the money never arrived. So he wrote something he could afford: twelve days in the summer of 1985, on $175,000, with a non-union crew and no permits or insurance. Tracy Camilla Johns stars as Nola Darling opposite Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell and Lee himself, who played Mars Blackmon because there was no money to pay an actor.She’s Gotta Have It won the Prix de la Jeunesse in the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes before Island Pictures opened it in New York on 8 August 1986, in a single cinema. It went on to gross just over $7.1 million in the US, holds 91% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and in 2019 joined the National Film Registry alongside Purple Rain and Clerks. Lee remade it as a Netflix series in 2017. Not a bad return on twelve days’ work.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISIn a world... of brownstones, bicycles and very large beds... one woman has made a decision. Nola Darling will not be tied down. Not by convention. Not by expectation. And certainly not by any one of the three men currently leaving their belongings in her bathroom.Jamie has devotion. Greer has cheekbones. Mars has a bicycle, a pair of Air Jordans and absolutely no off switch. Each believes he is the answer. None has stopped to ask what the question was.This summer... three men, one woman, and a Thanksgiving dinner nobody should have agreed to. She’s Gotta Have It. They’ve just gotta deal with it.FUN FACTSMars Blackmon got his name from Spike Lee’s grandmother. Stuck for a name, Lee asked her, and she said: “I had a crazy uncle named Mars.” The same grandmother gave him the seed money for She’s Gotta Have It, saved from 50 years of Social Security cheques.The Michael Jordan and Mars Blackmon Nike adverts began with She’s Gotta Have It. Wieden+Kennedy’s Jim Riswold and Bill Davenport saw the trailer, then the film, and rang the number listed for Spike Lee in the Brooklyn phone book. Lee thought it was a wind-up.What sold Nike’s ad men on Mars Blackmon was that he keeps his Air Jordans on in bed. The first Spike Lee and Michael Jordan commercials aired in February 1988 for the Air Jordan III.She’s Gotta Have It is in black and white except for one colour sequence, Nola Darling’s birthday dance, which Spike Lee called a homage to The Wizard of Oz.The MPAA gave She’s Gotta Have It an X rating three times. Spike Lee pointed out that Body Double and 9½ Weeks had both been rated R, and kept cutting until he got one too.Spike Lee kept it in the family: his father Bill Lee wrote the score and plays Nola’s father, his sister Joie Lee plays Clorinda, and his brother David Lee took the stills.Law & Order star S. Epatha Merkerson made her screen debut in She’s Gotta Have It as sex therapist Dr. Jamison.To research Nola Darling, Spike Lee circulated a questionnaire among 35 women. One question asked whether all men are “basically dogs”. The film suggests he got an answer.The end credits of She’s Gotta Have It proudly announce that the film contains no Jerri curls and no drugs, and thank Nike, Reebok and H&H Bagels.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon here.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference.Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:[email protected]://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback

Blake’s choice this week is Secretary (2002), a film you probably wouldn’t have rented for a quiet evening with your parents. Directed by Steven Shainberg and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, it stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. This independent production had a reported $4 million budget and was filmed in Los Angeles, with carefully designed interiors giving it that slightly strange, almost dreamlike look.Secretary won Sundance’s Special Jury Prize for Originality and helped put Gyllenhaal firmly on the map. Roger Ebert praised the lead performances and its handling of difficult subject matter. Its mix of awkward humour, tenderness and discomfort has kept people talking ever since, earning it a cult following well beyond its original release.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISIn a world… where a fresh start comes with a typing test… Lee Holloway is looking for a job and a little independence. What she finds is a lawyer with exacting standards—and an approach to staff development that really should have been mentioned in the interview.As the paperwork piles up, an unusual attraction takes hold. She wants direction. He likes giving orders. Neither is quite prepared for where this working relationship might lead.This time… taking dictation is only the beginning. Secretary. A story of longing, control… and an HR department conspicuous by its absence.FUN FACTSSecretary began as a short story in Mary Gaitskill’s 1988 collection Bad Behavior.On the page, the main character is called Debby Roe. Her boss is never named beyond “the lawyer”.Angelo Badalamenti, a regular David Lynch collaborator, composed the score. That might explain why this office never feels entirely ordinary.Listen out for Leonard Cohen’s “I’m Your Man” and Lizzie West’s “Chariots Rise” on the soundtrack.Shainberg and production designer Amy Danger spent two years planning the office spaces. Quite a commitment to getting the workplace right.My Beautiful Laundrette inspired Shainberg’s approach to presenting an unconventional relationship as something natural.The bent-over figure on the famous theatrical poster is a model, not Gyllenhaal.Wilson picked up the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay for her work on Secretary.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Dave’s pick this week is Convoy, Sam Peckinpah’s 1978 trucker movie starring Kris Kristofferson as Rubber Duck, alongside Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine, Burt Young, Madge Sinclair and Franklyn Ajaye. Filmed largely across New Mexico, the production rolled badly over budget, ultimately costing around $12 million — more than twice its original estimate.Behind the camera, things were almost as unruly as the convoy itself. Peckinpah shot roughly 800,000 feet of film and struggled to bring his cut below three-and-a-half hours before the producers took control of post-production. Reviews were mixed, but audiences turned up: the film earned about $45 million in the US and Canada, becoming the biggest box-office hit of Peckinpah’s career and later developing a cult followingTRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISIn a land of speed traps, CB radios and deeply questionable law enforcement… one trucker has finally had enough.Rubber Duck and his fellow drivers hit the highway with Sheriff “Dirty Lyle” Wallace on their tail. But what starts as a roadside feud soon becomes something much bigger, as one truck becomes ten… ten become fifty… and America discovers that truckers are considerably harder to arrest when they arrive as a small industrial nation.This summer, keep the hammer down, the CB switched on, and whatever you do… don’t get between the Duck and the open road.FUN FACTSThe film was inspired by C.W. McCall’s 1975 hit song “Convoy”; McCall recorded a revised version referencing characters created for the movie.Kris Kristofferson’s concert commitments caused filming to pause for around 11 days.Several “Jesus freak” bus passengers were played by members of Kristofferson’s touring band.Peckinpah appears briefly on screen as a sound engineer.Rubber Duck’s main rig is represented by a 1977 Mack RS712LST, with other Mack trucks used as doubles.Burt Young’s truck carries the name “Paulie Hauling,” a nod to his Rocky character.The climactic bridge location near Needles, California, was a temporary structure demolished later in 1978.Convoy became a major hit in the Soviet Union, selling a reported 35.9 million tickets.The end credits include a few shots not seen in the finished film and roughly run backwards through the story.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chris takes the controls this week with The Living Daylights, the 1987 James Bond adventure that introduced Timothy Dalton as 007 following Roger Moore’s retirement from the role. Directed by Bond veteran John Glen and produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the film had an estimated $40 million budget and paired Dalton with Maryam d’Abo, Jeroen Krabbé, Joe Don Baker, John Rhys-Davies and Art Malik. Filming took the production from Pinewood Studios to Gibraltar, Vienna and Morocco, with Dalton throwing himself into the action and performing a surprising amount of the stunt work himself.Released in the summer of 1987, The Living Daylights earned roughly $191.2 million worldwide, comfortably keeping the Bond machine rolling into its fourth decade. Dalton’s harder-edged, more serious interpretation divided some contemporary critics: Roger Ebert felt the new Bond lacked the humour the series needed, while other reviewers welcomed the return to a more grounded, Fleming-inspired 007. Over the years, Dalton’s brief two-film run has developed a strong following among Bond fans, with The Living Daylights increasingly remembered as an interesting bridge between the larger-than-life Moore era and the tougher Bonds that followed.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISWhen a Soviet general decides he’d quite like to defect without acquiring any additional ventilation holes, 007 is sent to make sure he reaches the West alive. But when Bond spots a beautiful cellist holding the rifle that’s supposed to kill his man, something doesn’t quite add up. Mainly because James Bond has apparently discovered the revolutionary espionage technique of asking, “Hang on... does any of this make sense?”FUN FACTSThe Living Daylights takes its title from Ian Fleming’s James Bond short story, first published in 1962. The opening portion of the film retains the basic idea of Bond protecting a defector from a sniper before the movie heads off into an original adventure.Norwegian band a-ha performed the title song, with Bond composer John Barry also involved in its production. The collaboration was reportedly not always harmonious, but the resulting track became one of the unmistakably '80s entries in the Bond song catalogue.This was John Barry’s final James Bond score, ending a remarkable association with the series that stretched back to Dr. No and his arrangement of the James Bond Theme.The Pretenders also feature heavily on the soundtrack. Their song Where Has Everybody Gone? is repeatedly associated with Necros, while If There Was a Man plays over the end credits.Kara’s legendary cello-case escape was achieved using a specially constructed fibreglass case fitted with skis underneath and handles that allowed it to be controlled. Finally, an instrument case with a Q Branch specification sheet.Timothy Dalton performed a number of his own action sequences, including stunt work on top of a speeding Land Rover during the Gibraltar opening. Apparently simply turning up, saying “Bond, James Bond” and collecting the cheque wasn’t adventurous enough.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon Herb sends Dave and Chris into the Australian Outback with The Proposition, John Hillcoat’s 2005 revisionist Western, written by Nick Cave. An Australian–UK co-production made for a reported budget of around $2 million, the film was shot around Winton in Queensland, using the harsh Outback landscape rather than trying to make Australia look like somebody else’s Wild West. Guy Pearce leads an impressive cast alongside Ray Winstone, Emily Watson, Danny Huston, John Hurt and David Wenham, with the unforgiving conditions becoming almost as important to the film’s atmosphere as the actors themselves.The result was a grim, unusually thoughtful Western that earned strong reviews rather than disappearing into the dusty corner of the video shop marked “Australian period drama.” It currently sits at 86% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes and earned multiple Australian Film Institute honours, helping establish The Proposition as one of the standout modern Australian Westerns and strengthening the creative partnership between Hillcoat and Cave. It may not have been blockbuster territory, but its reputation has only grown since release.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISIn the unforgiving Australian Outback... where the sun is relentless, the flies are organised, and absolutely nobody appears to be having a nice afternoon... one outlaw is offered an impossible choice.Charlie Burns has nine days. One brother is in custody. Another is somewhere beyond civilisation. And Captain Stanley has made Charlie a proposition that makes your average family disagreement look like an argument over who forgot to put the bins out.Now Charlie must ride into a landscape filled with violence, vengeance and men whose conflict-resolution skills largely involve firearms. This Christmas... family comes first. Unfortunately.FUN FACTSNick Cave reportedly wrote the screenplay for The Proposition in just three weeks after John Hillcoat asked him to tackle a fictional story about Australian bushrangers.Hillcoat originally approached Cave about providing music for an Australian Western before the idea developed into Cave writing the entire screenplay.Nick Cave and Warren Ellis composed their first feature-film score together for The Proposition, reportedly creating much of the music in only around four days.That Cave and Ellis score went on to win the 2005 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Original Music Score.Guy Pearce has repeatedly named The Proposition as his favourite film from his own career, even when comparing it with films such as Memento and L.A. Confidential.The costumes were created with an obsessive eye for period detail, with IMDb's production trivia noting that even the buttons were handmade.The film's period firearms were replicas, with its production trivia crediting gunsmith Buck Merry with crafting the weapons used for the shoot.Acclaimed Indigenous Australian performers David Gulpilil, Tom E. Lewis and Leah Purcell all appear in supporting roles.Before its Australian release, the film received a hometown screening at Winton's open-air cinema, with local residents who had helped with the production turning out to see the finished movie.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Gareth, Double Impact arrived in 1991 at exactly the point where Jean-Claude Van Damme was becoming one of the defining action stars of the VHS era. Directed by Sheldon Lettich and co-written by Lettich and Van Damme, the film had an estimated budget of around $15 million and was shot across Hong Kong and Southern California. Van Damme also co-produced the movie while taking on its dual leading roles, supported by Geoffrey Lewis, Alonna Shaw, Alan Scarfe, Bolo Yeung and Cory Everson. Creating two Van Dammes in the same scene required optical split-screen techniques, carefully controlled camera work and body doubles rather than the digital effects that would make the job considerably easier today.Released in the US on 9 August 1991, Double Impact received mixed reviews but pulled in around $30 million domestically, roughly doubling its production budget. Contemporary critics were divided between those happy to accept the film as a full-strength JCVD action vehicle and those less impressed by its storytelling. Either way, its combination of martial arts, gunplay, Hong Kong locations and the wonderfully shameless selling point of “two Van Dammes for the price of one” helped make it a memorable fixture of early-'90s action cinema and home-video shelves.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISTwenty-five years after a violent conspiracy tears a family apart, two identical brothers are about to discover each other. Chad has California smiles, martial arts moves and enough pastel clothing to frighten an entire decade. Alex has Hong Kong, black leather, cigars and the general demeanour of a man who considers conversation an unnecessary delay before punching somebody.Now their shared past is catching up with them, and the men responsible would very much prefer the Wagner brothers stayed separated.FUN FACTSDouble Impact was inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ The Corsican Brothers, the story of twin brothers separated early in life, and the project originally carried the Corsican Brothers name.Van Damme specifically wanted to play two contrasting characters because he believed the dual role would give audiences a chance to see more of his acting range rather than simply another variation on his action-star persona.Of the two Wagner brothers, Van Damme said his real personality was much closer to the more easy-going Chad than the harder-edged Alex.Van Damme personally wanted Bolo Yeung in the movie after the two became friends while making Bloodsport. Their reunion gave JCVD fans another chance to see the pair sharing the screen.Van Damme turned down Kickboxer 2: The Road Back in order to make Double Impact instead.The film featured Van Damme's first onscreen love scene, adding another string to the Muscles from Brussels' increasingly ambitious acting bow.The end credits include special thanks to Frank Dux's Samurai Connection — another link back to the colourful real-world figure whose claims helped inspire Bloodsport.Cory Everson, who plays the intimidating Kara, wasn't merely built for the part: she was a six-time Ms. Olympia bodybuilding champion.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week's pick comes from JAC, who takes us back to 1989 for Best of the Best, directed by Robert Radler and developed from a story by Phillip Rhee and Paul Levine. Made for an estimated $5 million, the film assembled an impressively serious cast for a martial arts tournament movie, including Eric Roberts, Phillip Rhee, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland, Chris Penn and Louise Fletcher. Production used locations in both the United States and South Korea, although some of the supposedly Korean tournament action was actually shot at the Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles.Released in the US on 10 November 1989, Best of the Best wasn't exactly a box-office champion, taking around $1.7 million domestically against that estimated $5 million budget. Critics weren't especially kind either, but the film found a much more appreciative audience on home video, where its mixture of martial arts, training montages, big emotions and unashamed late-'80s sincerity helped turn it into a cult favourite. It also proved resilient enough to launch three sequels and a franchise that continued throughout the 1990s.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISFive men have been chosen to represent the United States against the most feared martial arts team in the world.But before they can defeat Korea... they'll have to survive each other. Alex Grady is fighting through injury and responsibility. Tommy Lee is carrying the weight of the past. Travis Brickley appears to be carrying mainly anger and an urgent need to punch somebody.Under the relentless eye of Coach Frank Couzo, five individuals must somehow become one team. Because when pride, revenge and national honour collide in the ring, being good isn't enough.You have to be... the Best of the Best.FUN FACTSPhillip Rhee and Simon Rhee, who play opposing fighters Tommy Lee and Dae Han, are brothers in real life. Nothing says family bonding quite like repeatedly kicking each other in the head.Phillip Rhee isn't merely the star of the film — he also came up with the original story alongside Paul Levine.When Tommy is first shown teaching children in his dojo, the terminology and techniques are actually Taekwondo, despite the film regularly describing the competition as karate.Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell has named Best of the Best as his favourite martial arts movie.Alex Grady's son Walter was named after Eric Roberts' real-life father, Walter Grady Roberts.Kane Hodder — best known as Jason Voorhees in several Friday the 13th films — appears as Burt in the bar sequence and returned in different roles for Best of the Best 2 and Best of the Best 3.The film was the only entry in the original four-film series to receive a PG-13 rating in the US. All three sequels were rated R.There's a spelling mistake in Alex's National Team acceptance letter: "Congratulations" is written as "congradulations." Apparently proofreading wasn't part of the selection process.Phillip Rhee returned as Tommy Lee in the subsequent Best of the Best sequels, eventually becoming the central figure of the franchise.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chosen by Dave and Directed by Mike Hodges and produced by Dino De Laurentiis, Flash Gordon arrived in 1980 as a gloriously extravagant attempt to bring Alex Raymond’s classic comic-strip hero back to the big screen. With a budget reported at around $20–27 million, the production went all-in on enormous studio sets, lavish costumes and deliberately colourful, old-school effects. Sam J. Jones took the title role alongside Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Ornella Muti, Topol, Timothy Dalton and a magnificently enthusiastic Brian Blessed.And then, of course, there’s Queen. The band supplied the film’s unmistakable rock soundtrack, accompanied by Howard Blake’s orchestral arrangements, giving Flash Gordon one of the most recognisable scores of the era. The film performed strongly in the UK but struggled in some international markets, putting an end to plans for sequels. Over the decades, however, its combination of camp spectacle, huge performances and unapologetic excess has turned it into a genuine cult favourite.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISWhen Earth finds itself at the mercy of a mysterious cosmic threat, one man is about to discover that saving the world requires courage, determination... and apparently being quite good at American football.Transported to the strange world of Mongo, Flash Gordon must face the merciless Emperor Ming, survive bizarre kingdoms, forge unlikely alliances and somehow convince everyone that a bloke called Flash really might be humanity’s best hope.Prepare for spaceships, Hawkmen, ray guns, royal treachery and enough gold lamé to bankrupt an entire galaxy.FUN FACTSProducer Dino De Laurentiis originally considered Federico Fellini to direct the film.Mike Hodges later described the troubled production as essentially an improvised $27 million movie.Max von Sydow's elaborate Ming costume reportedly weighed more than 70 pounds, making it difficult for him to remain standing for long periods.Sam J. Jones had his naturally dark hair bleached blonde to play Flash, while Melody Anderson's blonde hair was dyed brown for Dale Arden.Jones was also supposed to wear blue contact lenses, but couldn't tolerate them.Dino De Laurentiis reportedly didn't know who Queen were when the band was first suggested for the soundtrack.Queen's Flash Gordon soundtrack album reached number 10 in the UK album chart.Brian May wrote the immortal “Flash's Theme”, while Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and John Deacon also contributed individual pieces to the score.Kenny Baker, best known as the man inside R2-D2, makes a small appearance as a dwarf in the torture chamber.The cast were originally signed for multiple Flash Gordon films, but the planned sequels never materialised.SUPPORT THE SHOWIf you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.And if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chris has chosen a 1995 action classic this week! Produced by action-movie heavyweights Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, Bad Boys marked Michael Bay’s feature-directing debut after cutting his teeth on commercials and music videos. Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Téa Leoni, Tchéky Karyo and Joe Pantoliano led the cast, with Miami’s sun-soaked streets providing the film’s glossy backdrop. Estimates place the production budget between $19 million and $23 million—remarkably restrained considering the quantity of gunfire, explosions and expensive-looking shirts on display.Reviews were mixed, but audiences were considerably more enthusiastic: the film opened at number one in North America and ultimately earned approximately $141.4 million worldwide. Its combination of buddy-cop banter, music-video swagger and unapologetic ’90s excess helped turn Smith and Lawrence into major film stars, established Bay’s unmistakably explosive style and launched a franchise that was still filling cinemas nearly three decades later.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISIN A CITY where the sunshine is relentless, the suits are immaculate and even routine police work requires several hundred rounds of ammunition... two Miami detectives are about to have a very bad week.Mike Lowrey is smooth, wealthy and dangerously confident. Marcus Burnett is a devoted family man who would quite like to survive until retirement. When a fortune in seized heroin disappears from police custody, the mismatched partners must recover it before their careers—and possibly their entire department—go up in smoke.This time, they’ll have to swap identities, protect a vital witness and rediscover the sacred meaning of partnership. Will Smith. Martin Lawrence. Fast cars. Loud guns. Absolutely no cup holders. Bad Boys.FUN FACTSThe project was originally developed at Disney under the title Bulletproof Hearts, with Saturday Night Live alumni Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz considered for the leading roles.Arsenio Hall was approached to play Mike Lowrey before Will Smith and later described turning down the role as one of his biggest career mistakes.The black Porsche 911 Turbo seen in the opening sequence belonged to Michael Bay. The production could not afford to rent one, and Porsche initially declined to supply a car. Car and DriverBay reportedly used $25,000 of his own directing fee to pay for additional crew time needed to complete one of the movie’s climactic action sequences.Both lead actors were still television sitcom stars during production: Smith was making The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, while Lawrence was starring in Martin.The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air later slipped in a cheeky reference to the film when young Nicky Banks mentioned that his parents would not let him watch Bad Boys.Much of the dialogue between Smith and Lawrence was improvised, including portions of the memorable opening carjacking scene. Apparently, chemistry cannot always be found in a screenplay.The familiar “Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?” refrain comes from Inner Circle’s reggae track “Bad Boys,” already famous as the theme music for the television series Cops.SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Leigh's pick takes us deep into the wonderfully unhinged world of 1980s Taiwanese ninja cinema with Ninja Condors, also known as Ninjas, Condors 13. Directed by Wu Kuo-Ren, credited on some releases as James Wu, the film was written by prolific exploitation filmmaker Godfrey Ho and produced by Chin Chang-Liang and Tomas Tang. Alexander Lo Rei leads a cast that also includes Eugene Thomas, George Nicholas, Jack Long, Li Hai-Hsing and Five Venoms veteran Lu Feng. No reliable published production budget appears to have survived, which somehow feels entirely appropriate for a film this gloriously rough around the edges.Released in 1987 as the Taiwanese ninja boom was beginning to wind down, Ninja Condors has endured as exactly the sort of cult VHS discovery we love: cheap, frantic, dubbed, frequently ridiculous and absolutely committed to delivering martial-arts action. Contemporary cult reviews have since embraced its relentless energy, inventive fights and general refusal to let narrative logic get in the way of another ninja appearing from somewhere. It may not have troubled the major awards ceremonies, but nearly forty years later people are still talking about it — which is probably a greater achievement anyway.TRAILER GUY PLOT SYNOPSISBrian watched his father die in front of him as a child. Years later, he has become White Eagle — a deadly ninja working for a criminal organisation ruled by a man with the reassuringly subtle name of... Lucifer.But when Brian's loyalty is pushed too far, the White Eagle decides he's had enough. Now the organisation that trained him is about to discover the unfortunate consequences of employing an elite assassin who suddenly develops a conscience.There will be revenge. There will be ninjas. There will be weapons, gunfire and several moments where asking sensible questions is strongly discouraged. This is NINJA CONDORS.FUN FACTSThe film is also known as Ninjas, Condors 13 and Knight Revenger, because apparently one title containing both ninjas and condors still wasn't enough.Alexander Lo Rei was something of a veteran of the Taiwanese ninja craze, with credits including The Super Ninja, Ninja Hunter, Ninja Kids, Secret of Ninja and Ninja in USA.Li Hai-Hsing didn't just appear in the film — he also handled its action choreography.The cinematography is credited to Quincy Szeto, while the music was composed by Sherman Chow.Martial-arts favourite Jack Long, known for films including The 7 Grandmasters and The Mystery of Chess Boxing, appears as Brian's ninja master.Lu Feng, one of the famous Venom Mob performers from The Five Venoms, makes an appearance early in the film.Brian's ninja identity, White Eagle, comes with the appropriate costume choice: he fights dressed predominantly in white rather than traditional black. Stealth clearly wasn't in the brief.Among the film's more imaginative action locations are a swimming pool, amusement park, shipping yard and ice rink. Ninjas on ice really is a thing.Eagle-eyed viewers may notice Alexander Lo Rei's hairstyle changing noticeably between scenes, suggesting either filming took place over an extended period or ninja hair grows quickly.SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy the show and would like to support us, we have a Patreon ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leaving us a 5-star review (and a short comment) really helps more people discover the show. It’s quick, free, and makes a huge difference. Referral links also help out the show if you were going to sign up:⁠⁠⁠NordVPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NordPass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/vhsstrikesback⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠