Review of Turbo Kid (2015) by Brian S — 29 Aug 2016

The Kid rides, scavenges and survives the post-apocalyptic wasteland of 1997 in one of 2015s hidden gems, Turbo Kid-a love letter to laserdisc's, Rubik's Cubes and unadulterated movie-violence that comes together like an awesome synth score.

Writer/directors François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell final product is like some long lost VHS tape that has recently been found at a garage sale and features many hallmarks found in low-budget 80s/90s movies, with an over-the-top tone, crazy amounts of blood, lame (but fun) one-liners but the filmmakers treat the material with so much respect that it never comes off as parody.

2007s Grindhouse is a similar example of writers/directors creating a new piece of cinema that is on one level a literal acknowledgement to the past and also being it's own, unique thing. The directing trio though surprise with Turbo Kid not with ridiculous chase scenes (on bikes no less), awesome roles (like with character actor Michael Ironside) or excessive gore (this isn't for the squeamish) but with the amount of heart and wit that they were able to instill in the story.

It makes Turbo Kid not just a fun ride but one that will have a lasting impression on you-warranting a rental at the local Blockbuster should be in place.