By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 19 seconds ago

In my household, one of our major guilty pleasures is shark movies. Most of them are a blend of two distinct genres: thriller and horror. These are two great tastes that don’t always taste great together, which is why these films always feel like a coin flip. Some of them are crowd-pleasing action schlockfests that are fun to watch with your friends over a few beers. Some, though, are so bad that you’d rather get devoured by a shark than watch until the credits.

Unfortunately, the new Netflix film Thrash (2026) falls into the latter category. The movie has a few things going for it, including some interesting effects that do their best to heave this disaster of a disaster film to life. It also features a number of unique characters, including one played by breakout Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor. Sadly, those qualities aren’t enough to save a film that feels like a snooze-worthy, waterlogged slog from beginning to end.

Shark Of Darkness

Compared to the shipload of shark movies on streaming, Thrash has a relatively unique premise. A small town on the East Coast is getting ready for the ravages of a Category 5 hurricane, with most residents evacuating. Those who can’t or won’t leave are in serious trouble when the sea wall is breached, flooding the full force of the ocean. Of course, the town is also flooded with sharks, leaving the beleaguered residents wondering what will kill them first: the rising water or the growing legion of bloodthirsty predators now patrolling every neighborhood.

While shark movies are decidedly hit or miss, I had relatively high hopes for Thrash. The film was directed by Tommy Wirkola, who previously brought us Dead Snow, a movie in which hapless medical students must fight a small army of Nazi zombies. More recently, he directed Violent Night, in which Stranger Things star David Harbor plays a cranky Kris Kringle who must survive his own Die Hard-like encounter with a group of armed thugs. Each of those movies provided the kind of memorable schlock that I love, so I hoped Thrash would be more of the same. 

Slow, Disconnected Plots

Unfortunately, the plot just meanders, a problem made worse by the fact that the characters never really gel together. Whitney Peak plays a character with agoraphobia, which neatly explains why she hasn’t evacuated in the face of a hurricane. But she has absolutely zero chemistry with Phoebe Dynevor, an expectant mother who could give birth at any moment. Their attempts to survive effectively form the A plot of the movie, while the B plot focuses on a group of redneck kids whose foster father has the intelligence and survival instincts of a slug.

Now, this can’t be emphasized enough: these plot threads do not intersect in any way. The A plot is more filled out, with its characters having more substantial things to actually do. Plus, Peak’s character has an uncle (the excellent Djimon Hounsou, who steals almost every scene) who is ever-so-slowly coming to the rescue. But the B plot is so sparse (it’s mostly foul-mouthed kids figuring out they need to get to higher ground) and so completely disconnected that it feels tacked on to pad the runtime. That’s ironic, because this unnecessary subplot makes the 86 minutes of Thrash feel like an eternity of misery.

From Splash To Splatter

As you might expect, this middling shark movie got “thrashed” by the critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 42 percent critical rating, putting this stinker of a film firmly in the “rotten” category. Adding some sea salt to the wound, it has a far lower 24 percent audience score, which is the real kiss of death here. Thrash was clearly aimed at general audiences looking for a popcorn film, but it turns out that sticking a Bridgerton star in the middle of a low-rent, shark-infested disaster film just wasn’t enough to hold even the most casual movie lover’s interest.

That is, ultimately, the worst sin of Thrash: for all its efforts at shlocky spectacle, most of this movie is downright boring. The effects are genuinely solid, and the actors are giving it their all, but this is a genre-mashing movie that effectively screws up two different genres. As a horror movie, it’s just not that scary, and as a thriller, it’s just not very thrilling. Even if you love shark movies, you’ll likely hate it because it pales in comparison to better movies on other streamers (seriously, just search for “shark” on Tubi; you can thank me later).

Wanting to see just how bad this Netflix original can get? Care to hate-watch this subpar shark film in all its garish glory? In that case, all you have to do is stream Thrash on Netflix today. If nothing else, this film will inspire you to be more productive. That’s because it will only take a few scenes before you realize that doing the dishes, taking out the trash, and vacuuming the house are all a much, much better use of your time than this deep-sea disappointment. 

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts

Release Date:

May8, 2026

Director: 

Simon McQuoid

Cast:

Karl Urban, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tati Gabrielle, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Joe Taslim, Ludi Lin

Plot Summary:

The fan favorite champions — now joined by Johnny Cage himself — are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

From her breakout role in “The Princess Diaries” to starring in fashion cult favorite “The Devil Wears Prada” and winning an Oscar for “Les Misérables,” Anne Hathaway has spent more than two decades at the top of Hollywood. She’s built a career defined by range, critical acclaim, and major box office success, but behind the scenes, she says it hasn’t always felt as effortless as it looked. Now at 43, Anne Hathaway is stepping into a new chapter, one where she’s finally letting go of the pressure that once defined her early years in the spotlight.

Anne Hathaway Ditches ‘Stress’ Mindset At 43

“When I started out, I thought I’d be a better artist if I was really hard on myself,” she told PEOPLE after being named the magazine’s “World’s Most Beautiful Cover Star.” “And then turning 40, I just kind of found a different gear, and I was no longer interested in living an awkward life. I was just interested in getting to the fun part.”

Now, Hathaway says she’s done putting so much pressure on herself, and is focused on actually enjoying the moment. “I’m at a stage in my life where I don’t want to focus on the stress,” she said.

Instead, she’s leaning into joy, surrounding herself with people who bring laughter and honesty into her life. “Humor. I love to laugh, and I love people who look for the joke in a situation,” the “The Princess Diaries” actress said. “You want people that you can celebrate the ups with, and you want people that you can laugh through the downs with.”

Hathaway Gets Candid About Childhood Anxiety And ‘Multiple’ Beauty Missteps

Looking back, Hathaway admits she struggled with communication and anxiety growing up, which only added to her feelings of being out of place. “When I was a kid, I found talking really difficult,” she told the magazine. “So I had a bit of stress and anxiety around just, like, communicating.”

Even something as simple as hair and beauty became a learning curve. “Multiple. I didn’t understand that there’s a whole language when it comes to beauty,” the actress said.

Anne Hathaway Admits Confidence Isn’t Constant

Anne Hathaway’s candid comments also come just days after another revealing interview, where she opened up about the ups and downs of confidence. Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar, the actress admitted that even now, self-image can fluctuate. “Some days you look in the mirror, and you’re just like, ‘Not bad,’” she said. “And some days you look in the mirror, and you’re like, ‘What?’ And I was having a ‘What?’ day.”

The “The Devil Wears Prada” star went on to share a relatable moment that forced her to face those feelings head-on. “And you know how you have your aspirational swimsuit that you keep around, just in case you have a good day?” she said. “And then you have your swimsuit that’s got you no matter what? I accidentally packed the aspirational swimsuit.”

The actress added, “Which I then had to wear on a ‘What?’ day. So, I’m ready to have this great day with my family. And I am going to be in front of strangers, and people have phones. And all of the things.”

Hathaway Reframes Aging

Anne Hathaway is also changing the conversation around getting older, and she’s doing it with a refreshing perspective.

“I think that very often, conversations about aging presume that the first part of life is the happiest and the most fulfilling, and I don’t necessarily think that’s true,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to find another gear at 40.”

For Hathaway, turning 40 didn’t mark a slowdown, but it unlocked a new chapter, one where confidence, clarity, and joy have taken center stage in a way they hadn’t before.

Anne Hathaway Embraces Confidence At 43

These days, Hathaway is finally feeling comfortable and confident in a way she never has before. Whether she’s blasting music from Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, or Madonna on set or embracing a more relaxed mindset, she’s proving that growth doesn’t have a timeline.

And for Hathaway, it’s clear that the best chapter might just be the one she’s in right now.

R&B singer and global superstar Mary J. Blige still isn’t pleased with her spot in a 2012 Burger King commercial. According to some critics, the production, which featured the Grammy-winner singing about chicken, appeared to perpetuate harmful stereotypes, sparking backlash and prompting both Blige and the fast food chain to issue public apologies. Today, the “Enough Cryin’” singer is opening up about how the controversy impacted her career and relationships. However, some social media users appear a bit confused by her firm reaction.

Mary J. Blige ‘Would Never Laugh’ Over What Happened With Her And Burger King In 2012

During an interview with Scott Evans, Blige recalled the commercial, in which she sang about “crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses, ranch dressing wrapped up in a tasty flour tortilla,” and said she could never find amusement in the scene.

“I would never laugh at that, because my true, honest fans did not think that sh-t was funny,” she said. “The whole way that s— went down was wrong.”

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Blige went further, seemingly implying that Burger King slighted her during the process. “The way they shot it was wrong. It was set up to make exactly what happened in the press happen like that,” she said.

Mary J. Blige ‘Learned A Lot’ From Her BK Commercial

The commercial has since become a viral meme, shared on TikTok and Instagram. While Blige said the situation is far from amusing, she also admitted to having grown as a person because of the fallout. “It’s still not a laughing matter to me, because I was deeply, deeply affected. Now, I learned a lot from it,” she said.

Driving her point home, Blige insisted that the commercial was “not f-cking funny.” Even then, she acknowledged that she couldn’t stop people from enjoying it.

“The bottom line is, my fans were confused. The real, true fans,” she added before revealing her representation did little to stop her from filming the spot. “Everybody dropped the ball, and I’m holding everything. That was a learning curve, but still not funny,” she said.

Mary J. Blige Lost Close Friends Over Her Burger King Commercial

Although the commercial aired, Burger King pulled the promo within 24 hours. For Blige, however, the damage had already been done.

“A lot of my so-called friends are not around anymore. I was like a disease to people. Nobody wanted to be affiliated,” she said. “This is where I learned I go where I’m celebrated at. They were treating me like I was a disease or something.”

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Blige apologized for her role in 2012, telling TMZ that she didn’t know Burger King was going to release the unfinished version fo the ad.

In her statement, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul acknowledged how the ad might’ve made her supporters feel and maintained that she was unaware of what was coming.

Burger King, meanwhile, also issued a statement, saying the ad was pulled due to a contract issue. “We would like to apologize to Mary J. and all of her fans for airing an ad that was not final,” the company said.

Fans Share Their Reactions After Learning Blige Faced Intense Backlash Over BK Ad

Social media users have been reacting to Blige’s interview with Evans, admitting they were confused by the singer’s serious response.

“Not all of us collectively confused as to why there was backlash,” someone wrote, while another said, “Lost friends? over a silly Burger King commercial? Losing them friends was a blessing.”

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A third user wrote, “Am I the only one confused about this situation because I have no idea why anybody would have an issue about this,” and a fourth said, “I was today’s years old when I saw this commercial.”

Others attempted to reassure Blige that the commercial wasn’t as harmful as she may have believed. “Everything is not funny, but this, this is funny,” someone posted.

Blige Snapped At A Fan During A Previous Tour

In 2019, Blige made headlines after she was spotted on camera clapping back at a fan who apparently disrespected her during her “Royalty Tour.”

According to The Blast, a heckler allegedly kept telling Blige to “shut the f-ck up” during her set, prompting her to issue a bold statement.

“… and for the person that’s been in here all night saying Mary shut the f–k up, YOU shut the f–k up,” she screamed.

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TV has lost multiple, beloved series in 2026 — including several fan-favorite CBS shows and a Law & Order spinoff.

Colbert confirmed in July 2025 that CBS “will be ending The Late Show.”

“Before we start the show I want to let you know something that I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season, the network [CBS] will be ending The Late Show in May,” he said at the time as the crowd booed.

Colbert went on to reflect on The Late Show’s legacy.

Related: Why Did CBS Cancel ‘Watson’ and ‘DMV’? Changes Explained Before Finales

CBS is going through some changes after canceling two shows. News broke on Friday, March 27, that Watson wouldn’t be returning for season 3, while DMV was canceled after one season. Their series finales will air May 3 and May 11, respectively. The update came a week before the network was planning to unveil its […]

“I share your feelings. It’s not just the end of our show but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away,” he continued. “I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners … And I’m grateful to the audience, you, who have joined us every night, in here, out there, and all around the world.”

CBS executives, meanwhile, released a statement addressing their decision to end the iconic late night program, revealing it was not “related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount” but was, instead, allegedly due to finances.

The network went on to pull the plug on several other shows, including DMV and Watson. Keep scrolling for the most disappointing TV cancellations — so far — of 2026:

‘Law and Order: Organized Crime’ (NBC)

Law & Order: Organized Crime, which premiered in 2021, went through quite a few shakeups with Matt Olmstead originally taking on the role of showrunner but ultimately stepping down later that year. He was replaced by Ilene Chaiken, who remained on the show for one season before Barry O’Brien took over.

Bryan Goluboff became the showrunner for season 3 but left after three months. He was replaced by Sean Jablonski, who left due to “creative differences” and David Graziano took over for the final episodes of the season.

NBC renewed the series for a fourth season with John Shiban as showrunner. He later departed during production of the fifth season, which marked the sixth change in showrunners over the show’s five seasons. NBC confirmed in April 2026 that the series had been canceled.

DMV (CBS)

DMV was waiting on its fate at CBS as decisions about comedy pilots Eternally Yours and The Tillbrooks (formerly known as Regency) were made. Tillbrooks wasn’t picked up but Eternally Yours was, which meant DMV was out.

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‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ (CBS)

CBS previously announced in July 2025 that The Late Show would end. The network later confirmed that after the show concludes in May 2026, Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen will take over. The comedy talk show currently airs after The Late Show and is followed by Byron Allen’s other late-night game show, Funny You Should Ask.

Related: Which TV Shows Are Canceled in 2026-2027?

2026 has been brutal when it comes to our favorite shows getting canceled. Netflix cut ties with Boots two months after the show premiered. Based on Greg Cope White‘s memoir, the scripted series followed Cameron (Miles Heizer) as he joined the U.S. Marine Corps alongside his best friend Ray (Liam Oh) during the 1990s, the […]

Watson (CBS)

Another CBS show that didn’t get a renewal was Watson. It was originally announced in January that CBS had a sweep of early renewals, with only Watson and DMV left in limbo. Deadline reported that Watson’s future depended on the success of Marshals and CIA, which both scored quick renewals.

‘Good Cop/Bad Cop’ (The CW)

There’s just something about a Canadian import show on The CW that always has Us invested. So imagine our disappointment.

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts

Release Date:

May8, 2026

Director: 

Simon McQuoid

Cast:

Karl Urban, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tati Gabrielle, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Joe Taslim, Ludi Lin

Plot Summary:

The fan favorite champions — now joined by Johnny Cage himself — are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

Actor Patrick Muldoon has died at age 57.

The Days of Our Lives and Starship Troopers actor died following a heart attack early Sunday, April 19, Deadline reported on Monday, April 20. The actor’s manager subsequently confirmed his death to Variety.

Us Weekly has reached out to Muldoon’s representatives for comment.

Friends of the star described him to Deadline as “endlessly generous — with his poetry, his humor, and his unmistakable presence,” adding that Muldoon “loved animals and people alike, gave unforgettable hugs, and possessed a rare quality of making others feel safe and seen.”

Related: Celebrity Deaths of 2026: Days of Our Lives’ Patrick Muldoon and More

Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. The year started off with Broadway performer and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford’s death at age 46. At the end of the month, comedy acting icon Catherine O’Hara died at age 71. In February, Designing Women’s Camilla Carr died at age 83, Dawson’s Creek […]

The statement added, “Stylish, charismatic, and full of life, he embraced each day with a full-tilt, rock ’n’ roll spirit.”

Elisabeth Costa de Beauregard Segel, president of global sales and distribution at Muldoon’s company, Storyboard Media, told Us, “Heaven got another angel far too soon,” calling Muldoon “the most amazing person.”

Muldoon first broke out in the early 1990s with stints on sitcoms Who’s the Boss? and Saved by the Bell. In 1992, he joined daytime soap Days of Our Lives as Austin Reed before exiting the show in 1995. He briefly reprised his role from 2011 to 2012, when he was among a handful of cast members let go. He also had a recurring role as villain Richard Hart on primetime soap Melrose Place between 1995 and 1996.

In 1997, Muldoon appeared alongside ex-girlfriend Denise Richards and Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers. He recently reunited with Richards, 55, for his “Gray Again” music video, in which the actress starred. The making of the romantic video was documented on a 2025 episode of Richards’ short-lived Bravo reality series, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things.

During the episode, Richards revealed that she fell out of touch with Muldoon while she was married to ex-husband Charlie Sheen.

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Related: Denise Richards Family Guide: Meet the Reality Star’s 3 Kids

Denise Richards and her family are far from camera shy. The actress first offered fans insight into her life when appearing on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for two seasons from 2019 to 2020. Five years later, in 2025, she peeled back the curtain once again via her own Bravo reality series, Denis Richards […]

“I did not speak to Pat when I was married to Charlie. And it was hard, because I didn’t want to lose him as a friend friend. But, towards the end of the marriage, I talked to him all the time about him,” she said.

“Mine and Pat’s relationship romantically was years ago, and it’s just a deep friendship. I’m so grateful Aaron respects that because Charlie… he had a hard time with my relationship with Pat,” she continued, referring to her estranged husband Aaron Phypers, from whom she filed for divorce in July 2025.

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In a confessional, Phypers said he did not “get jealous like that” seeing Richards and Muldoon kiss for Muldoon’s “Gray Again” music video, adding, “Patrick and I, we have a very good relationship.”

According to Deadline, Muldoon’s latest film, Dirty Hands, is set for release later this year.

Muldoon was also an accomplished film producer through Storyboard Media. Deadline reported that at the time of his death he was executive producer on the movie Kockroach, which recently began filming and stars Chris Hemsworth and Taron Egerton.

Internet users are reacting to Queen Naija and Clarence‘s “ring” photos as her mom appears to confirm their engagement.

RELATED: Queen Naija Previews A New Love Song After Trying On Wedding Dresses On Stream (LISTEN + VIDEO)

More On Queen Naija & Clarence’s “Ring” Photos

Over the weekend, Queen Naija and Clarence shared a joint carousel post via Instagram. Furthermore, the post shared photos from their time shooting a previously released YouTube video, titled “I CHOOSE YOU FOREVER,” as previously reported by The Shade Room.

Swipe below to see all of the photos from the shoot.

Internet Users React To “Ring” Photos

Social media users immediately entered TSR’s comment section with reactions to Queen Naija and Clarence’s ring photos.

Her Mom Appears To Confirm Queen Naija & Clarence’s Engagement

As The Shade Room previously reported, amid dropping the “I CHOOSE YOU FOREVER” clip, Queen Naija also released her latest single, ‘Ring.’ Furthermore, around this time, her mom took to social media to share a video congratulating Queen and her “son-in-law to be” Clarence. Ultimately, Queen’s mom explained that she is happy her daughter got to “find” and will “marry the love of her life.”

“I’m glad this family is healed. I’m glad for Clarence. They’re finally tying the knot,” she said in part.

RELATED: Friends Are Congratulating Queen Naija & Clarence NYC After She Flaunts HUGE Ring While Teasing New Song (PHOTO + VIDEO)

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 1 minute ago

Before Stranger Things brought back the 80s as Steven Spielberg envisioned them, 2015’s Turbo Kid brought back the 80s as Troma envisioned them. The low-budget independent film left audiences stunned back in 2015 with its abundance of gore combined with a love for the old 80s coming of age adventures that somehow managed to combine into an amazing movie. Thankfully, the bloody, gory adventure is now streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Amazon Freevee. 

Turbo Kid Is The Superhero You’ve Always Wanted

Turbo Kid takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland with scarce resources under the control of vicious warlords. The Kid (Munro Chambers) is a teenager trying to get by as a scavenger while collecting all the comics he can of his hero, Turbo Man. After his new friend, whether he likes it or not, Apple (Laurence Leboeuf, in the best Harley Quinn performance that’s not Harley Quinn) is taken by the warlord Zeus (SeaQuest DSV’s Michael Ironside), The Kid finds the real Turbo Man. Or at least his remains. Taking the armor and weapon of the superhero, The Kid sets out to save Apple and restore hope to his world. 

Turns out, saving the world means killing a whole lot of evil henchmen. In true 80s movie style, Zeus’s second in command is an imposing figure named Skeletron with a signature weapon every kid thinks is cool, but Hollywood never films due to things like “realism” and “practicality.” Skeletron shoots sawblades from a wrist-mounted gun. Not small sawblades, the type that can rip a person in half and sever limbs without even trying. Turbo Kid follows the rule of cool. 

No Budget, No Problem

Over a decade later, and there’s still nothing quite like Turbo Kid. The budget obviously went to the special effects, which still look low-budget and crude, but that’s a large part of the charm of the film and why it works so well. It’s more Toxic Avenger and less Avengers.

Everyone involved understood the assignment, which is why Michael Ironside chews the scenery up like a Sunday brunch. Even the synth-filled soundtrack is a throwback to the 80s. Deep bass beats and a deep voice telling us “This is the future” is how every adventure film should start out. In a world where we don’t even have trailer voice-overs anymore and original soundtracks are replaced by “epic” covers, it’s healing to go back to a decade when originality still existed. 

If you’ve never heard of Turbo Kid before, it’s because in 2015, we were living through an amazing run of Marvel superhero movies, looking forward to Batman vs. Superman, and the independent Canadian/New Zealand production, debuting at the Sundance Film Festival, flew under the radar. After earning under $100,000 in theaters, the cult classic found an audience among hardcore cinephiles and superhero fans who craved something different from generic blockbusters from the Big Two. 

Turbo Kid may not be for everyone with its over-the-top amounts of gore and blood. The post-apocalyptic superhero leans more towards comedy than horror, but it’s still not for the squeamish. Thankfully, if you want to give it a shot, the immediate underground cult classic is available on Pluto TV, Tubi, and Amazon Freevee.

If a movie features some kind of martial arts prominently, and at least an action scene or two is seen throughout, it’s going to count as a martial arts movie for present purposes. That makes things pretty broad, at least compared to the range of films you might get to unpack and discuss if you were talking about kung fu movies, because kung fu is a sub-genre of martial arts, cinema-wise. And kung fu is a kind of martial art, if you’re talking more generally and outside the realm of cinema.

So, Seven Samurai could be classified as a martial arts movie, even if you might feel more comfortable calling it a samurai film. It’s not quite intense enough to appear here, but there are a few samurai films below. The focus is on particularly intense martial arts movies, which isn’t necessarily the same as looking at the best martial arts movies of all time… though a few of the ones below are absolute classics. They just so happen to be particularly intense classics.

10

‘The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter’ (1984)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

While it might sound like business as usual, for a martial arts movie, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter is actually pretty intense, mostly owing to how it looks a little more painful in its action scenes than most martial arts films of its era. As for the business-as-usual side of things, it is one of many martial arts movies about revenge, and the protagonist is someone who spends quite a bit of the film’s runtime training so that he has what it takes to enact vengeance.

The finale is particularly impressive on an action front, not to mention brutal, while the opening scene is no slouch in such departments, either, given how many people are wiped out in the film’s inciting incident; just how many people need to be avenged, in other words. It’s all extremely well done, and as long as you don’t mind wincing a handful of times, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter is an undeniable must-watch, as far as martial arts movies go.

9

‘Last Hurrah for Chivalry’ (1979)

Image via Golden Harvest

People tend to be more familiar with the John Woo movies that focus on shooting and explosions over hand-to-hand combat, and that’s understandable, because the likes of Hard Boiled and The Killer are immense action movies… but also, those people might be missing out on Last Hurrah for Chivalry. This one came out a little earlier, and is a great demonstration of Woo’s ability to make a different sort of action movie in a similarly satisfying manner.

Narratively, it’s not always the easiest thing to follow, but reliable John Woo themes and beats like sacrifice and anything else that falls under the whole “heroic bloodshed” thing can be found here. The violence is also rather brutal by the standards of the 1970s, and there is a huge amount of action, so watching Last Hurrah for Chivalry does end up being a pretty consistently intense affair.

8

‘Ip Man 2’ (2010)

Image via Mandarin Films

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There are currently four main movies in the Ip Man series, plus a surprisingly good spin-off, though the first two are probably the best overall. Also, both are quite intense, not so much for the level of violence showcased (which is mild, compared to some soon-to-be-mentioned 21st-century martial arts movies), but more because of what they go for emotionally.

The original Ip Man might be even more of a drama or a biopic than it is a martial arts movie in the traditional sense, to the point that when the titular character gets into a situation where fighting is the only answer, you really feel the weight of that combat. But Ip Man 2 ups the stakes and also features a bit more by way of action, and could well be slightly more intense/involving as a result. Both are must-watches, though, if you like martial arts films and haven’t seen either of these yet, for any reason.

7

‘Lady Snowblood’ (1973)

Image via Toho

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Lady Snowblood is about a young girl who is raised learning pretty much nothing but what she needs to become a living instrument of revenge, all to get back at the people who killed the family she never got to know. If that sounds incredibly depressing, that’s because it is, but at the same time, Lady Snowblood is also quite thrilling, and there are certainly some impressive action sequences sprinkled throughout.

At the end of it all, there’s more of a sense of “Revenge is bad and only destructive,” though, more so than a perhaps more expected “Revenge is cool and worth it” sort of thing. At least there is some entertainment value here alongside all the blood and misery because, if nothing else, Lady Snowblood does manage to be a feast for the eyes while also being, more broadly, a punch to the gut.

6

‘Vengeance!’ (1970)

Image via Shaw Brothers

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And then alongside Lady Snowblood, here’s Vengeance!, which is another martial arts-themed movie about revenge, though this one might well be even more nihilistic. A man who feels like he could well be protagonist material ends up being very much not, since he dies early on, and it’s his brother who takes over as the central character in Vengeance!

He descends morally as he goes about fighting and/or killing all those responsible for his brother’s death, and it’s relentless just how much he keeps sinking and, all the while, the action scenes keep getting bloodier and more spectacular. It’s the sort of film that really takes you on a ride, and one that genuinely feels unsafe at certain points, but a movie being well over half a century old and still being able to inspire such feelings should be admired.

5

‘The Sword of Doom’ (1966)

Image via Toho

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Few central characters from cinema history have been quite as reprehensible as Ryunosuke from The Sword of Doom. If you can picture a slasher movie set during samurai times, but largely from the point of view of the villain, then you could well be picturing something a little along the lines of The Sword of Doom, with violence being constant and Ryunosuke himself getting worse and worse as things progress.

It’s also like a psychological drama, in a way, exploring the mind of someone who barely seems human and who has absolutely no problem with murdering all sorts of people for any reason that pays… and maybe, at a point, the killing itself is the payment. The Sword of Doom is equal parts miserable and impressive, certainly feeling up there as one of the heaviest and most soul-crushing films of its decade (or maybe even any decade).

4

‘The Raid’ (2011)

Image via PT Merantau Films

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The simplicity of The Raid is quite wonderful, since it’s about a police operation going wrong, and some well-equipped SWAT members being put at a tremendous disadvantage because they find themselves trapped within a high-rise apartment building. The building is crawling with people who are loyal to the crime boss who oversees the entire complex, and he sends out a message to all that the police officers need to be killed.

So, those who don’t die initially have to fight their way out of a confined location, with guns only taking everyone so far, and much of the action being of the hand-to-hand variety, sometimes with hand-to-hand weapons of the makeshift kind or otherwise. It’s a premise more than a story, but it’s a great premise, and it leads to some phenomenally well-staged fight scenes, with the brutality and the setting of the movie (plus the desperation involved with the premise) making The Raid feel especially intense throughout.

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‘The Raid 2’ (2014)

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

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The Raid 2 goes bigger in just about every way, compared to The Raid (2011). Some of the immediacy is lost, since it doesn’t take place within a claustrophobic setting over a very short period of time, but there is still a ton of danger for the protagonist throughout. He’s essentially made to go undercover, infiltrating a vast crime empire that operates throughout Jakarta.

In that sense, The Raid 2 is also something of a gangster movie, and a particularly white-knuckle one at that. The gangster story side of things is not as impressive as the action, but the scope of the narrative does allow for a wide variety of action sequences, which ends up being the most important thing. And when this movie’s final act kicks off, it’s like little else, in terms of sheer excitement, spectacle, and intensity.

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‘Harakiri’ (1962)

There’s an emphasis on mystery, drama, and a quiet kind of suspense to most of Harakiri, even if it does also feel like a samurai movie of sorts right from the start. The main character is a man who wants to tell the members of a samurai clan why he intends to take his life, and there are things revealed through the continually devastating story he tells, and things do gradually get more violent, too.

When there is combat in Harakiri, it feels brutal and quite realistic, which is in line with what the rest of the movie’s going for, as a deconstruction of certain samurai movie conventions or, more broadly, a critique of the samurai way of life/purported code of honor. You can approach it on one of these fronts, or all these fronts, and Harakiri remains gripping and unnerving.

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‘The Night Comes for Us’ (2018)

Image via Netflix

For now, The Raid is a duology, but if you really want to see it as a martial arts trilogy, you could squint your eyes a little and maybe fool yourself into thinking that The Night Comes for Us is that third film. Okay, though it’s got the same sort of brutal action, and there are a fair few cast members who appeared in The Raid and/or The Raid 2 and The Night Comes for Us, the characters are pretty different.

Like, the hero of The Raid and its sequel is played by Iko Uwais, yet he plays the main villain in The Night Comes for Us, and the hero of The Night Comes for Us is played by Joe Taslim, who was a supporting character in The Raid (2011). And Julie Estelle, who was Hammer Girl in The Raid 2, has a prominent role in this film. Anyway, it’s maybe not as good as either of The Raid films, but The Night Comes for Us is somehow more violent, and it probably goes into more intense/downbeat territory on an emotional front, too, which does help make it feel like an escalation if you want to try and re-frame it – or somehow see it as – The Raid 3. In any event, if you liked those two movies, you will almost certainly get something out of The Night Comes for Us.

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The Night Comes For Us

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Release Date

October 5, 2018

Runtime

121 Minutes

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Director

Timo Tjahjanto

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Writers

Timo Tjahjanto

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