Turbo Kid (2015)

In the post-apocalyptic future of 1997, a young man known only as The Kid (Munro Chambers), is a young solitary scavenger who is obsessed with comic books, primarily that of a superhero known as Turbo Rider, must face his fears and become a reluctant hero when he meets a mysterious girl named Apple (Laurence Leboeuf). Despite their efforts to keep to themselves, Zeus (Michael Ironside), the sadistic and self-proclaimed leader of the Wasteland, continues to plague The Kid and Apple. Armed with only his faith and an ancient turbocharged weapon, known as The Turbo Glove, The Kid learns about justice and friendship as he embarks on a journey to rid the Wasteland of evil and save the girl of his dreams.

Even though I wanted to see this film after seeing a trailer one night and I kind of knew what I was expecting, I was still pleasantly surprised by it. I found the style of the film to be very distinctive. I thought it reminded me of another film which I liked, Hobo With a Shotgun. The film is a sci-fi film (obviously) but it's not just any sci-fi film, it's like an homage to 80's sci-fi/action films. From the style, to the soundtrack, to the story, it just screams 80's which I liked (Yes, I was born in the 90's but I can still like it). Hobo With a Shotgun, a Canadian film like Turbo Kid (Canada shout-out), also had an 80's style but I think this one did it better. Sure, the story makes little sense and was very campy but that's not why you're watching this. The film is very aware of this and thus, doesn't take itself to seriously. You're watching this for the experience. This a funky, cheesy (not the bad kind), post- apocalyptic sci-fi experience. It doesn't really explain how the world came to be but instead chooses to focus on The Kid himself. The film's world is similar to that of the Mad Max series but instead of vehicles, the characters use BMX-style bicycles. I liked all of these things but the main selling point of this film is the violence. My goodness is it ever violent so it may not quite be for everyone. There's real-looking blood (perhaps too much), there's gore, and pretty much if you can think of anything bad then it's probably here too. I enjoyed how creative they were with how they utilized the violence but I won't elaborate on that to not give anything away (I don't know what that says about me but sometimes I like myself some tasteful violence). In a film that tries to be a B- movie type film, you would think that the acting would be bad but this was not the case here. Sure some of the acting was cheesy and some may not like the film for it but that was just because of the style of the film. Chambers and Leboeuf as The Kid and Apple were very likable and relatable and fit the world admirably. Apple's happy, go-lucky personality definitely stole the show. Ironside's villain Zeus was also great as well. Overall, if you're a squeamish person than you may not enjoy this but if you're looking for a fun time then you should give this one a try.

Score: 9/10 keithlovesmovies.com

Fmovies: If your primary movie-going experience is watching Hollywood blockbusters with vin diesel, this may not be your cup of tea, but for everyone else, this film destroys it.

This film is pure gold, 80's indulgent, brain melting gore, a love story, and even somewhat artistic at times.

I won't drone on, but this film i destined to be a staple in horror/art house/comedy cinema.

It is fast-paced, adorable, hilarious, brutal, and has a charm that only filmmakers in love with their genres can produce. This is not Hollywood, but you wouldn't know it. Often times I can either purchase a film to see it, or watch it streaming but, it's a rare occasion when i see a film and have to instantly purchase it.

I have no difficulty believing that Turbo Kid won an Audience Award at the 2015 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, and several awards or nominations at other film festivals. It's 95 minutes of outrageous gore and belly laughs. Yes, I meant that. Whoever had the fake blood concession undoubtedly made a hefty profit supplying dozens of gallons of the red stuff, and I laughed myself silly at the number of gruesome ways the expendable characters died. But it was all in fun - the mayhem and violence was not too over-the-top explicit (okay, there was the scene with the guy's guts being ripped out by a bicycle), and I had the feeling the actors were having fun with it.

Turbo Kid has a post-apocalyptic setting strongly reminiscent of Mad Max. The world as we know it has been devastated, and the water has become so polluted that safe drinking water has become a treasured commodity. The Kid (Munro Chambers) lives by himself and only goes into a nearby settlement to trade for water with the articles he finds by scavenging. One day he meets Apple (Laurence Leboeuf), a remarkably free-spirited girl, and they become scavenging buddies. When Apple is kidnapped, the Kid goes after her and stumbles across a device that gives him super powers. But even with super powers, he's up against formidable odds as he tries to rescue Apple. The final showdown against the baddies, led by the one-eyed Zeus (Michael Ironside), is truly one of filmdom's great gorefests.

Turbo Kid was no super-low-budget studio backlot knockoff. The production values were quite good, and the acting was first rate, especially young Laurence Leboeuf as Apple, who caught me completely off guard with a surprise revelation. The driving high energy soundtrack complemented the film perfectly.

It's a fun movie to watch, and I really hope there's a sequel.

I was provided the opportunity to prescreen the film.

Turbo Kid fmovies. The easiest way to put this is that they made a film for 10 year old me but knew I'd be mid 30s when I watched it!

So much fun. Some of the best kills I've ever seen and the most awesome synth soundtrack ever!

This film is independent movie gold. The cinematography is beautiful, from the old buildings, to the landscapes, this film makes you believe your in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. There are a lot of practical effects and blood gags, lots of blood! One touch I enjoyed was the use of bicycles, if you think about it, it makes scent in a post-apocalyptic world there most likely isn't gas so how else do you get around. The little bit of C.G. they use is really 80's, as well as the music and props, which is part of the charm of Turbo Kid.

Besides Total Recall's (1990) Michael Ironside who plays a great villain, the rest of the cast isn't as well know which makes this movie stand out. Munro Chambers plays the star of the film known as "The Kid"; like most post-apocalyptic movies in the 80s his back story gets flushed out throughout the film. At times The Kid reminds me of a young Mad Max, although The Kid doesn't become an interesting character until we run into "Apple" played by Laurence Leboeuf. When we first see apple she is CREEPY! But we quickly glow to love her and with her humorous personality she kind of steals the show. Aaron Jeffery plays the bad ass character who is a mix of Mad Max, Indiana Jones and Snake Plissken. All together the whole cast works really well together and their chemistry gets you really invested in the film.

The story moves at a quick pace once it gets warmed up and it just keeps going which kept me glued. Sure the blood is over the top, there are some quick fixes to keep the story going and there is some cheesy times but it is all fun and I really enjoyed this film from start to finish. Unfortunately this film maybe forgotten by most so don't pass it up. Turbo Kids is another independent film that shows why you should look for non-mainstream films because they try harder, they are fun and a bit different. Cheers and remember life won't suck as long as there is a good movie to watch.

9 out of 10

Edited by Samantha Locke

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Turbo Kid is a fun little post-apocalyptic adventure, heavily evocative of certain landmark films from the 80's, particularly Mad Max; however, the creators do not rely on cheap references, but instead revel in the stylistic nuances of their influences to create something new and, for the most part, novel. Their love for what they are making is tangible throughout, giving the entire experience an earnest sincerity that most films, particularly those with a larger budget, simply don't have.

The film is quite bloody and violent, to an extent that could easily alienate viewers who are averse to such things; however, the violence is so incredibly campy and over the top so as to mostly be endearing, or even funny. That said, the film's main characters, The Kid and Apple, are so lovably innocent and optimistic that the overall tone remains lighthearted and fun. Their friendship gives the film a wonderful heart. The villains provide a good counterpoint, though they are fairly one-dimensional. The original music is also absolutely fantastic, matching the tone perfectly.

The world itself isn't developed much and occasionally the film's small budget becomes slightly detrimental to the viewer's immersion. The creators are mostly very clever with their budget though; all the characters riding bikes instead of driving cars is just adorable and matches the film's tone perfectly. The costumes and overall visual style are also top notch.

The amazing thing is that despite the silliness and low budget, this film still manages to have far more heart than most big budget films. It's a genuinely endearing and fun experience.