Psycho Goreman (2020)

Directed by Steven Kostanski

Notable cast Nita-Josee Hanna, Owen Myre, Matthew Ninaber, Adam Brooks

 

The Japanese tokusatsu genre has existed in some form or another for the better part of 75 years. Birthed out of films like Godzilla, they refer mostly to a style of special effects and codified in characters with international (if a bit niche) appeal like Jet Jaguar and Ultraman. The genre exploded with worldwide (emphasis on wide) popularity when producer Hiram Saban took the superhero series Super Sentai and inserted new western-shot footage in the non-costumed scenes and rebranded it Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. It’s nearly impossible to overstate the effect of this series on a specific generation of children born in the 80s and 90s with its ludicrous, over the top acting, silly but elaborate monster costumes, and bombastic, pyrotechnic filled fights. This is the energy that Steven Kostanski wants to capture with Psycho Goreman. A thoroughly hard “R” sci-fi/horror comedy, this movie hits on every cylinder it’s trying to with style, humor and panache to spare.

 

Leprechaun Returns (2018)

Director: Steven Kostanski

Notable Cast: Taylor Spreitler, Pepi Sonuga, Sai Bennett, Heather McDonald, Emily Reid, Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins, Leon Clingman, Mark Holton, Linden Porco, Pete Spiros

To properly address Leprechaun Returns, we need to start by having a brief conversation about the Leprechaun franchise thus far. After the first film came out with a bang, utilizing the emerging direct to home video market and developing a video store cult audience, the series has seen its relative ups and downs. This is a franchise that was never meant to be taken seriously. The tongue is very, very firmly planted in cheek from the onset. Whether or not you are willing to ride the series through its waning issues of quality and over reliance on gimmick is more or less a question of how far you are willing to accept ridiculousness and horrific puns. When the series suffered a reboot back in 2014 with Leprechaun: Origins, it was a wild mistake and wholly misguided venture that left most people, even those who enjoyed the series, myself included, perplexed. Did we ask for a super serious, dark, and modernized manipulation that forgot everything that was core to series?