Guns Akimbo
2020 · Directed by Jason Lei Howden
Original language: English
- action
- comedy
- thriller
The story
An ordinary guy suddenly finds himself forced to fight a gladiator-like battle for a dark website that streams the violence for viewers. In order to survive and rescue his kidnapped ex-girlfriend, he must battle Nix, a heavily armed and much more experienced fighter.
What it’s like
Hyper-saturated and kinetic, with neon-drenched night streets, glossy digital grading, and a restless handheld camera that whips through rooms and rooftops in frenetic, comic-book energy. Chaotic punk-pop and synth-rock stings drive the editing, while the on-screen chat overlays and livestream graphics give it a loud, online-age sheen. Its vibe is manic, irreverent and cartoonishly violent, the sort of thing to put on for a loud Friday night with friends or a late-night watch when you want to be jolted awake rather than eased into anything. Pacing rarely lets up: fight sequences cut fast and often, with brief pauses for absurd banter and slapstick. The emotional register is gleefully over-the-top, and the arc of its hapless, reluctant hero, stumbling from couch-bound slacker into a fighter, is played for deadpan laughs. Violence is frequent and graphic, with gunfire, bloody impacts, gory injuries and body mutilation shown for comic effect, plus some crude language and sexual innuendo; it is not gentle, and the cruelty is presented as cartoon spectacle. Made for viewers who enjoy black comedy, stylised action and gleeful excess, and not for anyone seeking calm or low-intensity viewing.
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