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Mortal Challenge

Mortal Challenge (1997) Movie Poster
  •  USA  •    •  93m  •    •  Directed by: Randy Cheveldave.  •  Starring: Timothy Bottoms, Alfonso Quijada, Vince Murdocco, Nicholas Hill, Jody Thompson, Kristina Copeland, Darren E. Scott, Kim Calderoni, Douglas Smith, Korrine St. Onge, Richard Faraci, Lauro David Chartrand-DelValle, Brent Fidler.  •  Music by: Daryl Bennett, Jim Guttridge.
      A devastating earthquake has left Los Angeles split in two. The wealthy now live in a new island metropolis, while the poor struggle to survive in the ruins of the old city. Detective Jack has been assigned to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy businessman's daughter somewhere in the ruined zone. While questioning some local punks, Jack and the others are suddenly attacked and kidnapped by a mysterious gang of thugs and taken to a hidden prison compound where they are hunted down by a strange half-man, half-machine killer. Somehow, Jack must find the girl and figure out who's behind this place, but first he must get out alive.

Trailers:

   Length:  Languages:  Subtitles:
 1:36
 
 

Review:

Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
Image from: Mortal Challenge (1997)
In a post-apocalyptic LA, several teenagers become missing. A cop must save her, finding out there is much more in store for him. The cop, along with friends he's made along the way, finds himself trapped in the DeathDrome - an old plant devoted to a death trap where the only way out is battling to the death against two humanoids.

It's a fun-filled cyberpunk fight film with decent action for a B film and completely ahead of its time (the fights are filmed to an audience and are a lot like the "reality" genre of today, but in film format). The partial nudity and sex scene add erotica New Horizons was known for in the day. The makeup is often a little gimmicky but the lighting and camera quality make up for it. The film is setup as a futuristic gladiator game with reminisce of the ancient Romans (vixens, the elite, and the thumbs-up and thumbs-down gesture to signal life or death. Overall, I recommend this film as it adds uniqueness to the fight genre with its mix of sci-fi elements.

Its relation to Mortal Kombat:

This film pays homage to Mortal Kombat in these ways:

  • The DeathDrome is located in the outskirts of LA, like Outworld. - The tournament master is an elderly man. - The tournament master uses the term, "mortal combat." - Centaurians are the name given to the "police" of this outworld. - The cop is a spin-off of Jax. - Hawk, the thug, is a spin-off of Kano. - The vixens beauty is reminiscence of the MK babes. - The people in the Deathdrome are trapped, especially the humanoids, and are forced to fight their way to freedom. - The music is techno and this film even has its own theme song, which is cheesy like the Power Rangers and VR Troopers themes.
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