How to watch: Amazon Prime: $1.99 (freewith membership), Youtube: $3.99
Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Starring: Jean-Paul Ly
Director: Marc Price
Writer: Marc Price
Rating: R
Release Date: December 26, 2018(United Kingdom)
Style: Action, Martial Arts, Violet, Dark Comedy, Horror, British
You can find more information about this movie on its IMDB page.
Jean-Paul Ly is making a name for himself in the world of martial arts cinema. He can be found in a few short films on YouTube. Ly has also been extremely minor background fodder for protagonists to beat up. He tried to steal Doctor Strange’s watch one time, but he got beat up by Chiwetel Ejiofor. I was first introduced to Jean-Paul Ly when he personally contacted me to promote his Cambodian film Jailbreak on Instagram. After this initial interaction I researched what I could about his career and watched what was available. It took just one short fight film to notice that he has the potential to be a star in the same vein as modern stars such as Iko Uwais or Tony Jaa.
His 2018 film Nightshooters is a small Independent film from London directed by indie director Marc Price. The film has been floating around from country to country. Earlier this year it released on Amazon Prime for users in the United Kingdom. I thought that I may never get a chance to see the film until very recently. Jean-Paul Ly posted that the film was finally available for Amazon Prime users in the United States. I have been waiting for nearly a year. Did the film live up to the hype?
Overview
A small independent film crew is shooting a film in an abandoned building. The crew consists of a stuffy director, a smart-ass audio operator, a clumsy assistant, a tough explosives expert, a snarky make-up artist, a washed-up actor, and his silent stunt double. On the final night of shooting in the building they witness something they weren’t supposed to. In the building next door, a gang is in the middle of an execution.
As their victim burns alive they peer out the window and notice some unfamiliar faces watching them. The gang sends their men over and it quickly becomes a game of cat and mouse as our film crew must get to safety while avoiding the criminals. The building that they inhabit is wired with demolition charges. Everybody has until morning to evacuate the building. Can they make it out in one piece or will the building crumble before they get the chance?
Story Review: 6.8/10
The “cat and mouse” story is not overly intricate but what makes the movie so watchable aside from the action is how the film handles its tone and characters. Each character is developed quite well. Personality is given to characters both major and minor. The group of protagonists are each so diverse that the way they handle their situation comes out quite quick. Some characters panic while others remain calm and put their skills to use in attempts to navigate the building. The antagonists range from evil and stoic to nasty and comical. There are certain villain characters that are prominent figures but even henchmen with seven seconds of screen time are given a few lines and quips that make them feel like people.
This is an odd thing to point out but isn’t it weird that movies just show henchmen walk in and out of frame waiting to be killed off without ever getting to say a word. I complain about work every twenty minutes of my shift. You’re telling me that Blofeld’s henchmen don’t constantly talk about how crappy their jobs are? It is just nice to see henchmen getting something to do in a film.
A Mix of Genres
The film seamlessly blends three different genres into one film. Immediately the film feels like a dark comedy. As soon as the action starts the film becomes a martial arts action movie. Then while the crew is hiding from the criminals, certain scenes morph the film into somewhat of a horror movie. Will the heroes make it out of the room alive or have they taken a wrong turn? During slow scenes, when the action has let up to let the audience breathe, the film lets up on any sense of comedy to show just how heavy the situation is for everybody.
When the viewer is not laughing or blown away by the action a genuine feeling concern takes over. That concern would not emerge if the film did not take the time to familiarize the audience with the leads. The character work and tones of the film come across just as much as the martial arts.
Martial Arts Review: 9/10
Marc Price is not an action director. Horror films and small character pieces make up the majority of his filmography. Because of this, Jean-Paul Ly was given control of the choreography. Over the course of less than two weeks, he choreographed the fight scenes and camera angles with a team of five stunt guys. Their hard work shows through in beautifully executed fights scenes that range from action packed fun to dramatic edge of your seat violence.
As the stakes of the film grow, the fight scenes evolve. When the action starts we get to see what Jean-Paul Ly’s silent stunt double Donnie is capable of in a quick flurry of kicks and punches. He quickly incapacitates his aggressors without killing any of them as new and greater threats arrive he must do whatever it takes to make it out alive. The choreography drops the fun, growing more intense in every fight scene. Along with the intensity comes the brutality. The heroes find their backs against the wall and they may have to fight as dirty as the bad guys if they want to get out.
A major highlight of the film sees Ly’s Donnie squaring off with someone of equal skill. Both constantly trade shots back and forth while they scramble for a knife. Whoever gets it first is leaving the room alive. This is one of the most brutal scenes in the movie. This brutality is simply a tool used to enhance the breathtakingly fast choreography.
Conclusion: 7.5/10
This film was worth the wait. I expected fast paced martial arts and the film definitely delivered on that. What I did not see coming was a fresh cast of characters operating within multiple well blended genres. Quickly I found myself chuckling at characters who worked well together. I empathized with our heroes as they feared for their lives. When they were not fast enough to evade the danger headed their way I felt genuine concern.
I turned the film on wanting to see incredible martial arts action. By the end, I had watched a blend of horror and comedy full of colorful, delightful, and endearing characters with some amazing fight scenes packed in as well. Marc Price’s Nightshooters is a fantastic addition in the early days of Jean-Paul Ly’s career. Ly is quickly making a name for himself in the martial arts community. I can absolutely say that I cannot wait to see what is next for Jean-Paul Ly.
Have you seen Nightshooters? What were your thoughts on this British indie? Head over to Youtube and check out my review over there. Leave a comment and lets talk about the film.
Check out my Youtube channel where I review and discuss martial arts films.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYUbj1Rjnf07S3UbVvKZ0Q?view_as=subscriber
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