Young Rebels (1989) – Ben & Chuck’s excellent adventure

Get keen folks, there’s another offering from Amir Shervan to blow the dust off. If you’ve had the pleasure of being exposed to his other classics like Samurai Cop or Hollywood Cop then you know exactly what you’re getting. If you haven’t, then you’re in for a wild journey through shootouts, fistfights, strip clubs, and action on the open road, as a stud and his pals take on a Californian crime lord…

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) – Samurai Dolph

Showdown in Little Tokyo has Swedish stud Dolph Lundgren lifting cars and throwing stars. It also has Brandon Lee showing his martial arts chops, yes the son of Bruce. There’s not much call for dramatic acting, just bring more arses for them to kick. To my delight, wisecracks and one-liners flow as if the 80s never ended, so do bullets, fists, and feet, all ending in a suitably explosive climax…

American Cyborg: Steel Warrior (1993) – baby on board

This one is right up there with the best of the trashy, post-apocalyptic sci-fis so strap in, press play, and enjoy the ride. Its got everything you didn’t even know you wanted – shanty towns, unstoppable cyborgs, dystopian sex punks, underground lepers, and an epic mission to deliver the one fertile woman in all the Americas to safety. Did I mention her tank-dwelling foetus?…

Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987) – Trouble in paradise

What a movie Sidaris has blessed us with here. What a legacy he has left. Hard Ticket to Hawaii is such a fine example of how bad movies can be some of the most enjoyable cinematic experiences available. Sure, it’s trashy, cheesy, and a little seedy, but it’s done with a cheeky grin and a twinkle in the eye…

Silk (1986) – Smooth like shattered glass

“Don’t push your luck too far, Silk’s gonna get you no matter where you are.”  Any cop that has their own theme song must be pretty badarse. Our titular heroine is indeed all that – looking as cold as ice with her slicked-back hair and a fantastic selection of 80s fashion. There’s a minor disappointment in that the rest of the movie isn’t quite as slick or stylish, or easily comprehensible for that matter, but that’s just par for the course…

The Lawless Land (1988) – Post apocalypse road trip

Who doesn’t love a good, post apocalyptic road movie? This one might not be good by any stretch, but it is relatively entertaining, and features some pretty sweet locations. Shot in Chile, there’s a lot of dry and dusty desert to go along with this rather barren tale of forbidden love. Don’t worry, it still packs in enough outrageous and stupid moments – like nipple shocking, weird stripteases, and bad keyboard playing – to make it worth a watch…

Hollywood Cop (1987) – Kidnapping your senses

Here it is, the aptly named beginning of Amir Shervan’s legendary Hollywood period. There are shootouts, fistfights, terrible dialogue, painful acting, a tacky kidnapping plot, and some of the poorest quality production you’ll ever have the pleasure to witness. Hollywood Cop is a trash filled caper that runs in circles for most of its overly long duration, resplendent in all its dirt cheap glory…

Mutant Hunt (1987) – Junkie robots get junked

Mutant Hunt is pure, kitschy, low budget Sci-fi, featuring a totally unoriginal story, soundtracked to cheap perfection, and packed full of woeful action. Everything from Blade Runner to The Terminator has been unashamedly copied and stuffed with an impressive amount of narrative offal. Oh, and for a movie filled with fight scenes, these are some of the worst you’ll ever see…

Deadly Addiction (1988) – The kids wanna rock

What you’ve got here is the classic premise of a reckless, renegade cop versus an international drug ring. Director and star Jack Vacek can barely contain his excitement, and it’s somehow infectious. The story is entirely unoriginal, predictable, and ham fisted, but it goes down in an over-the-top blaze of glory…

Dead End City (1988) – “It’s showtime!”

Man this movie knows how to get your attention, coming at you hard and fast in the opening credits, leaving several bodies in its wake. The slickness of the production had me a little excited straight away – throw in Robert Z’Dar and a cheesy, pulsing, synthesiser score, and the whole thing comes out looking pretty promising…