Genregeddon: Action

Hard on the heels of the Bristol Bad film Club‘s Arniegeddon Austrian Oak triple-bill comes their borderline insane bum-numbing 12 hour marathon of Action B-movies. Supported by Arrow video, Genregeddon: Action comprises seven films featuring such titans of the genre as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Carl Weathers, Michael Dudikoff, Brandon Lee and the late, great Sir Roger Moore.

Here’s the line-up in full, with the BBFC’s own commentary on each title:

Bloodsport (1988)

In tribute to his martial arts teacher, defence agent Frank Dux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) takes unauthorised leave and competes in the Kumite, a freestyle martial arts Olympiad held secretly every five years in Hong Kong.

As the bloody competition commences his colleagues try to stop him from taking part, and Dux finds himself facing formidable opponents both in and out of the brutal arena in this Cannon Films classic!

River of Death (1989) – provided by 88 Films

A mysterious disease is ravaging the tribes of the Amazon and John Hamilton (Michael Dudikoff, American Ninja) is tasked with helping investigators search for the cause, leading to violent clashes with river pirates, run-ins with cannibal tribes and a treacherous secret that dates back to the last days of Nazi Germany.

Steve Carver (Lone Wolf McQuade) directs a dream cast that features Donald Pleasence (The Devonsville Terror), Robert Vaughn (The Magnificent Seven) and L.Q. Jones (The Wild Bunch) in a film from the mind of Scottish novelist Alistair MacLean (The Guns of Navarone) that delivers action, adventure and mystery by the boatload.

Megaforce (1982)

Ace Hunter (Barry Bostwick) is the leader of a secret mercenary outfit named Megaforce that has access to the best weapons and soldiers known to man. When Megaforce finds itself involved in a dispute between the Republic of Sardun and their covetous neighbour Gamibia, Hunter is pitted against his old rival Duke Gurerra (Henry Silva).

Former stuntman Hal Needham directs this fast-paced action feature that was one of the inspirations for Team America!

North Sea Hijack (aka Ffolkes) (1979)

The late, great Roger Moore, Anthony Perkins and James Mason star in this fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat espionage thriller. Madman Lou Kramer (Perkins) captures and threatens to destroy a vital North Sea oil rig in 24 hours unless the British government delivers a huge ransom.

Only one man has the skills to defeat him – Rufus Excalibur Ffolkes (Moore), a reclusive underwater expert who leads an elite commando team. Ffolkes and his team plot their high-seas assault in a race against the clock.

Action Jackson (1988)

Due to the use of excessive force in arresting a sexual predator, Detective Lt. Jericho “Action” Jackson (Carl Weathers) is demoted to police sergeant.

What’s worse, the father of the man he roughed up, Detroit industrialist Peter Dellaplane (Craig T. Nelson), declares war on Jackson, framing him for the murder of his own wife, Patrice (Sharon Stone).

Hired To Kill (1990) – provided by Arrow Films

Starring legendary actors Oliver Reed (Gladiator, The Brood) and George Kennedy (The Delta Force), Hired to Kill is an essential slice of ‘90s action fare featuring guns, girls and a plethora of budget-busting explosions for good measure.

Action movie staple Brian Thompson stars as Frank Ryan, a mercenary sent to track down a rebel leader in hostile territory. Posing as a fashion designer, he won’t be going it alone, as he’ll be aided by seven beautiful – but deadly – female fighters.

Showdown In Little Tokyo (1991)

Dolph Lundgren is the muscle, an American samurai steeped in Eastern traditions. Brandon Lee is a “Valley dude” quipster with a lot of fight in him. Together they hang tough in a war with a lurid L.A. underworld of Japanese drug lords.

As directed by Mark L. Lester (Commando), that combat is a frenzied comic book come to explosive life. How this dynamic duo takes on and flattens all comers makes for “smart, fast-moving martial arts action adventure.”

If you’re hard enough to handle it, admission is a bargain £20 (that’s around 15p per explosion by our back-of-a-fag-packet calculation). Bag your advance tickets here.