Action Addicts Network

This is a bit of a different review from our normal format, not only is this film not released officially yet but it’s one I’ve been actively following the development of since it’s inception. Currently the movie has a distribution deal but no details have been released. Once these details are officially available I will update this article to reflect that. Special thanks to Johnny Yong Bosch for making this review possible.

Johnny Yong Bosch.
One of the most respected and in demand voice actors who likely needs no introduction if you are a fan of anime or videogames, has also taken the odd break from that world to star in a few DTV action movies. Some of which were created by genre darlings like Eric Jacobus in 2012’s Death Grip or Koichi Sakamoto with both Extreme Heist in 2002 and Broken Path in 2008. Oh, and you might remember him from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers in the 1990s, he played Adam Park the second black ranger who went on to become the green zeo ranger and the first green turbo ranger starring in two major motion pictures along the way.

However, what is less known is that Johnny himself is a massive fan of action movies and has always had a helping hand in many of the projects he’s been involved in with an eye for film making and a desire to do more. Spades is not just the latest movie to star Johnny but it is a project that has been forged into existence by sheer determination and willpower. Johnny serves as one of the stars, the writer, executive producer and makes his directorial debut with this project. Vox Rocket Studio, which is Johnny’s own company and produced this film, is also credited with both the visual effects and the sound design and if Ark Exitus, the company’s previous short film, is anything to go by that essentially means Johnny did them as well. That’s a lot to balance for anyone, never mind someone attempting to direct a feature for the first time.

The good news, however, is that Johnny absolutely nails it. Spades is a great ride, while I don’t have specific numbers, I’m willing to bet they are working with a budget that is significantly smaller than most DTV offerings. For that alone this movie is an achievement, smart blocking and great camera work goes a long way to hiding some of the constraints of microbudget film making but the fact a lot of this movie is filmed on location makes it very easy to overlook the odd shortcoming because 90% of it looks fantastic. The other aspect I am impressed with is the sound design and the work that has gone into making sure the dialogue is crisp and clear. Many DTV movies skimp out in the audio and pay the price, these guys however have truly put in the work. Every character can be heard, every gunshot sounds impactful and car engines roar at you with a great punch whenever the ignition starts. The score is also something that surprised me, multiple scenes in this picture had me welling up thanks in large part to the excellent music accompanying the editing or acting on the screen.

The film is focused on a cop named James Bishop played by fellow Power Ranger alumni, long time friend and collaborator of Bosch, Jason Narvy, who is struggling with PTSD after serving overseas and experiencing a horrific event. He’s also recently suffered a loss and is estranged from his daughter, sadly the cases don’t stop coming and despite his issues he still shows up to get the job done. He attempts to reconnect with his daughter while also handling a new homicide case that may be the work of a new serial killer or a vigilante.

If you’ve seen any of the promotional material for the movie then you likely already know that the masked man on the front cover is played by Johnny Yong Bosch and is the mystery killer Bishop must confront. There are certain story elements that I don’t want to ruin for people going into this as I appreciate most of you haven’t seen it yet. What I will say is that not everything is as straight forward as it appears and that I was pleasantly surprised by certain narrative choices.

Maya Brattkus plays Lana Bishop, James’ estranged daughter and I have to say that the connection Maya and Jason have on screen is impressive. Some of the scenes between them are likely to hit close to home for many people and the reality of how loss and grief can tear a family apart is on full display here. Both actors really show off what they are capable of, with Jason in particular bouncing from traumatised soldier to desperate to connect father all while maintaining his calm callous analytical detective side that he needs to keep the lights on and the job done. There are many films where the character of Lana could have been a subplot, handled poorly or simply not been given the time it needs to breathe organically. Instead, both parties get to say their peace and are open to the idea of reconciliation while acknowledging there is still a lot of pain involved. Lana is inevitably drawn into the main plot by becoming a victim of the very crime ring her father is investigating.

Speaking of, every good story needs a good villain. This one has a man known as Saito played by Japanese actor Nobuaki Shimamoto who some people might recognise from Bullet Train (2022) or Top Knot Detective (2017). Saito heads up a vicious gang that has its sights set on expanding into new territories. His introductory scene tells you almost everything you need to know, he’s cold, efficient, suave and has a lethal temper. He’s the man with a plan but takes every precaution, even in his own building everyone wears masks to ensure faces can’t be traced or tracked. Saito serves as the primary antagonist but there are several supporting goons working alongside him, the most prevalent of which is Asuka A.K.A. Tereza played by Crystal Lee. Asuka is every bit as dangerous as Saito but is much better at hiding it, playing into the fact she is often underestimated and only revealing her true intensions when any chance of resistance is safely removed.

Johnny Yong Bosch has crafted a great bunch of characters that are all brought to life with great performance, that does make you wonder though. What about Johnny himself? Well unfortunately he doesn’t get a whole lot of face visible screen time. His character is mostly there to look cool and scary. Have badass fight scenes and remains enigmatic throughout most of the movie. His character does eventually get time in the spotlight, and we also see him in flashback form where he plays a very different person. His time as a voice actor serves him well during the masked scenes and at no point did I feel a disconnect from his character. In fact, the mystery of who he is and why he shows up was built up really well.

Speaking of badass fights, no single person is credited for the choreography or the action design. Speaking with Johnny to discuss his time on the recently released movie Hellfire it was clear to me that Johnny does not think of action design as the result of any one person and that it’s a team effort. While it’s clear he had a lot of input on the sequences, the collaborative approach he adopts means I can’t sing any one persons praises because some of these fights are incredibly satisfying.

Indeed, this may be the best Johnny has looked in the action department since his time on Broken Path, which was a whopping 17 years ago. My only complaint is that he is unlikely to get all the flowers he deserves for it due to his character wearing a mask throughout most of it but I assure you it is him underneath. Tight and snappy movements mixed in with heavy brutality, knife work and a lot of tactical gunfights. One scene in particular feels like his character is a cross between Michael Myers and the Batman, stalking his well-trained opponents from the shadows and taking them out with deadly efficiency. Then a few moments later we get an excellent high-octane corridor fight with stun batons and knives that felt more akin to traditional martial arts action. The film strikes a nice balance between tactical military engagements and remembering that folks love to see flashy technique and fast, impressive choreography. Even Bishop gets in on the action, he has a few fist fights that are less clean, messier by design but still get the job done. As the plot progresses his time as a soldier starts to come back to the surface and when he picks up a rifle again, he’s able to prove that he is far from the washed-up combatant some people label him as.

Special mention must go to Maya Brattkus, not only does the film not simply reduce Lana to a damsel in distress but when the moment of crisis approaches, her character rises to the occasion and gets to show off that she is also more than capable at handling some martial arts sequences.

All of this is nicely captured through some great cinematography and a deliberately choice to add a lot of colour to sequences. The movie is going for a stylised look that chooses to add a lot of hue and vibrance to certain scenes while really emphasising specific dark colours in others. Some of the shots where purples and reds are used look fantastic and I love the visual variety it added to some scenes that could otherwise be two guys talking in a dark room. This is also a huge part of the films identity as while many people are certainly coming to Spades looking for action, and they will find it, the film identifies more as a Neo-Noir than a pure action fest and in many ways I think that is going to make it stand out in a sea of similar feeling DTV action.

Overall, this movie impressed me on multiple levels. I went in believing I knew what I was getting and while I wasn’t entirely wrong. They say it’s the journey and not the destination, in that aspect this film really did surprise me. Spades has been winning many awards throughout the film festival circuit and I can certainly see why, while I still think people need to remember that this is a low budget affair this is a terrific film waiting for those hungering for something a little bit different that delivers the goods with dramatic flair.