There are times when we look back at the past and this also has been happening quite a lot in various movies the last year. Kung Fury was a fantastic example of this, but also the hilarious Computer Show used the style of the eighties to great effect. Turbo Kid continues this trend, with its Laserdisc opening, synthesizer music and budget feel. Is this “style over substance” or a movie you simply can’t miss?
In the “future”, the year 1997 to be precise, the world isn’t doing great after a nuclear war has taken place. Everyone is trying to survive in this dangerous world. So does The Kid (Munro Chambers), who is a big fan of the Turbo Rider comics and dresses like his big hero. He has created a safe place o live for himself and also knows where he can go safely. He constantly has to scavenge for food and water and during his search he meets the very strange Apple (Laurence Leboeuf), who more or less forces him to become friends. The bad guy in the area is Zeus (Michael Ironside), who together with his evil henchmen is a huge danger for everyone. When Apple is kidnapped Kid decides to try to rescue her, which means an uncertain future away from his safe area.
Turbo Kid is a film which revels in its eighties inspiration, something which comes back in everything you see on-screen. It has the look and feel of a straight to video release, with cheap sets and very bad special effects, but here it simply works and is a joy to watch. The movie feels a lot like Mad Max, but on BMX-bikes.
It is also quite graphic, with body parts flying through the air and lots of blood, but it’s so over the top that it never feels gory. It is actually a source of humour, like the way in which Zeus tries to get information from someone by attaching his intestines to a exercise bike. When the guy cooperates though he still decides to use the bike “ because it had cost so much time to prepare”. It has many of these type of moments, which combined with its atmosphere results in something which is very enjoyable. To harken back to the eighties, this is worth a trip to the video store.
I’m so happy to see some more love for this movie. It really is a blast to watch. And you are so right about the graphic violence being too over the top to really be gory and it serving as a source of humor. Great review.
Thanks Wendell!
Thought this movie was a lot of fun when I watched it in Netflix. I wished the worldbuilding was a bit stronger, but overall it was fun. Apple was probably my favorite part. She was zany but not a caricature or over-the-top.
Yeah, it could have been, but it was fun for what it was.
Great post. I saw this at a festival and loved it, just a fun movie all-round. I thought Michael Ironside was awesome!