The Legend of Luther Arkwright (review)

The Legend of Luther Arkwright

Bryan Talbot (@bryan_talbot)

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@cleric20)

"The die is cast. The Grand Illusion has already begun. We are observers but we are also part of it..."

If you by some chance haven't had the joy of reading The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, stop reading this, get yourself a copy and read it!! Come back afterwards if you want to know if this incredible sequel lives up to following what is considered by many not only to be the first British graphic novel but also one of the very best.

Still here/back? Excellent - I had the immense pleasure of meeting the acclaimed graphic novelist, Bryan Talbot, himself at a preview event for The Legend of Luther Arkwright at the Cartoon Museum in London and I can confirm that he's every bit the legend you'd imagine him to be from reading his work. I had the chance to grab a preview copy of the new Arkwright tome and here are my thoughts on it...

The good news is that not only is Luther back, but he's still a reluctant soldier fighting across a multiverse of parallel Earths and trying to right wrongs whilst facing impossible odds. Legend jumps straight in with a heavyweight threat, Proteus, a being superior to Luther who initially wants to recruit him to their cause. Alas, this cause is to wipe the existence of petty human life and establish a utopia for those like Luther who have powers - so Luther decides to fight!!

inspiring stuff!!

This new 240-page tome works as a stand-alone story but still maintains the much-loved lore and continuity with the Arkwright mythos. There are some fun returns of other characters too, which is just as well as the battle Luther faces here seems so hard to beat, he's going to need all the help he can get.

Chapters break with quotes from Shakespeare and George Orwell, Darwin and H.G. Wells, and the black and white artwork leaps from the pages and jumps straight into your soul. 'Legend' is a staggering achievement by a guy who's been doing this since the 1970s and he's lost none of the mind-altering verve, systemic shock-value or adrenaline-pumping action which are the hallmarks of Arkwright. It's quite something coming some 40+ years after his original story first saw publication.

Luther is a comic book icon, a hero of the underclass who holds no love for fascists. Where previously the backdrop of the rise of the British extreme right influenced Talbot's earlier works (he was doing voluntary illustrative work for his local Anti-Nazi League Group). Now, it feels incredibly timely that as the extreme right seems to be on the rise again, Luther's return is a pertinent one.

Welcome to the real multiverse...

The Legend of Luther Arkwright will, as Talbot's early works be an inspiration to all free-thinking comic creators - I hope that the next Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison or indeed Bryan Talbot reads this and sees just what can be done with the ageless medium of the graphic novel.

Out of a potential 5 - you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööööö

(5 - Welcome back Luther - you are a legend indeed!)

Get your copy of The Legend of Luther Arkwright

And whilst here help support this project: Bryan Talbot: The Father of the British Graphic Novel

Check this vid from the Arkwright preview event:

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Matt meets Julio Carlos - the legend known as 'Scribblesworth'

Matt Adcock (@Cleric20) Meets Julio Carlos (@Scribblesworth1 @Julio_reviews)

It's not every day you get to meet a super-fascinating character who is multi-talented and who commits plenty of time to helping other authors get noticed / improve their craft... But enough about me - I'm here today (virtually) with the Scribblesworth himself: Julio Carlos!?

He describes himself as 'an eccentric poet that crafts powerful verses thoughtfully and precisely, creating works that force you to feel, reflect upon yourself & think (Griever Collection) and allow you to heal (Lifter). He is a very experienced writer with 16+ published books with poetry for all tastes, touching themes such as love (Wasted Hearts), loss, depression, rebirth, devotion, passion (The Sinful Collection), humanity and society with a hefty dose of humour, sarcasm and political-incorrectness...'

I've had the pleasure of having Julio review both the novel and comic version of Complete Darkness which he seemed to like (Book Review, Comic Review), have contributed to his excellent e-magazine a few times and now had the chance to read his collected works!

Reading Julio's stuff is a real trip through a landscape of emotions. His books of poetry take you on journeys of both the heart and mind. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future there are massive banners of Julio's words splashed across cityscapes and people are wearing T-shirts with his poetry on them. If you want some poetic stimulation then I'd advise that you dive in and enjoy the many and various forms of Julio's musings.

Out of a potential 5 - you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööööö

(5 - Poetic vibes that will resonate with your soul!!)

I had the joy of putting some questions to the man and here are his answers!!

Matt: Who or what would is your nemesis?

Julio: Hey Hey Matt! Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this interview! Really appreciate it.

Well, I don't have Nemesis that are people or things per se, but I do have my mind, hahaha. The voice inside my head is, at times, VERY negative, and although I do the best I can and actually talk to it,

(sometimes we have strong arguments), I know I still have a long way to go in that aspect. But just like most of my future books, I'm a work in progress.

But I understand that these are just the reflections of my traumatic past experiences while growing up. So, I'll work it out, day by day.

Matt: What is the most life-affirming thing you’ve ever read or watched in a book/film of any genre?

Julio: "Always be in the Fuck-you position". That's the most life-affirming, and one of the most powerful lessons I learned. It's from a movie, I think "The Gambler", about a guy who gambles and get's himself into a HUGE debt. Things would be ok, if the Chinese, Russian and American

mafia weren't involved.

One of his friends (that I think is also a Gang/Mafia Boss) says this to him, and I was like: "OMFG! THIS". Never forgot that, and it's really helpful.

Matt: If you were hired to throw a parade of any scale or theme through the centre of London what type of parade would it be?

Julio: Assuming that I wouldn't be like: WOHOOOO!! London!!!! YEIHHH!!, the parade would be probably about planting trees. Yes. I am a HUGE climate Advocate, since a kid, so every chance to call people upon climate change would be welcome and given that parades call the attention of people, and it would be massive, I think it would help move the needle in that direction.

Matt: You are granted a supernatural power to bless the world, what does that look like for you?

Julio: OH, I would be Ueki!!!! HAHAHHAHAH. So Ueki is the main character of "The Law of Ueki", which is an anime from the 90's and so about a guy that can turn trash into trees through SHEER F*&KING WILL (pun intended), and I think that this power would be sooooooo awesome, because I will make a forest one day, and I love plants and hate non-degradable plastics.*grins*

Here he is...

Matt: Who or what inspires you most (can be living or dead)?

Julio: Pain. I think pain actually is my best propeller to do things. I write on pain, and I achieve most things out of sheer spite and anger. It might like seem cabal, but it's true. Like, people nowadays don't

know how to tolerate each other, and are too selfish to even love, at least, this is what I've been seeing for almost two decades now. So, if I can't be moved out of love, then, I'm moved by the second strongest feeling I have. Pain.

Matt: There’s a masked assailant with a gun to your head, who is most likely to be under the mask?

Julio: My third ex-girlfriend. HAHAHHAHAHHAHA. I think she holds a grudge on me for breaking up with her. She liked me a lot, but the relationship was toxic, so I decided to cut myself off. She is cool though. But if there was one person, the most probable would be her. Plus, she is a Cancer, and that sign holds grudges. HAHAHHAHAHHAHA.

Matt: What is the meaning of life?

Julio: Whatever we give to it. Life in itself is random, and it exists because, well, it exists, and its sole purpose is to perpetuate itself.

When it comes to humans, you, me and our (sometimes unnecessary) complexities, life takes the meaning we paint it. If you would ask me, then, what is, for me, the most appropriate meaning for life, then I would say: To serve others and enjoy Life, and nature. To enjoy our time in here, by helping out others, and "tending" nature. Keeping the balance of things, and you know... have fun! There is no reason for most of what we now do, and most ideologies are stupid and dangerous. To try to be supreme above others no matter what is a waste of time, and it's rooted in fear, and fear is always rooted in ignorance and weakness. Only the ones that serve others know real strength and happiness.

Matt: What was the best gift you’ve ever been given?

Julio: Besides undivided attention... I would say that the best gifts, I got were 1) A paper with Fernando Pessoa's poems, by the same Ex-girlfriend that is holding me at gunpoint; 2) Birthday-sex, from The

Little Goddess, muse of my erotic poetry collection

"Sinful" (Book one - Get it here || Book 2 - Get that too).

Matt: If you could create a sidekick robot – what would it be able to do for you?

Julio: It would be able to transcribe my writings on paper to the laptop, edit my typos hahahhahhahhahaha, and generally help me with my scientific research that I do from time to time. It would also be able to play the guitar or the drums, I need a drummer real bad, hahahahha.

Matt: What would you like written on your tombstone?

Julio: "I'll be back" would be a tempting offer, hahahahahahahahahha, but to be more realistic, (and not to cause giggles on other people's funerals), something like "I lay here without regrets" would be perfect. "To die without regrets" is the main motto of my life, and the main goal. To die without regrets, especially the regret of not trying, and not doing my best on each attempt.

Matt: Any final words you like to add...

Julio: I would like to say THANKS, Matt, for being so awesome and inviting me to your blog on my first interview EVER! Yeih, I'm famous.

To readers of this short interview, I will say, that you can actually get my work, lots of them for free on my Author page , BMAC, and my Blog (Juliocarlosworks.wordpress.com ) and lastly,

if you haven't read Matt's Book, Complete Darkness, correct that ASAP, you are missing out

on a LOT of great stuff in there.

Thank you so much for having me Matt! See you on Twitter!

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Matt is Nobody's Agent (review)

 

Nobody’s Agent   

Stuart Field (@StuartField14)

 Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@cleric20)

 

“Nash felt the eyes of the others on him, burning with suspicion. ‘I’m here to investigate the bodies found in the mine, so why would I kill the person who was assisting me?’ ”   

Fancy taking a trip to the small town of Finchley, it’s a lovely place in upstate New York, there are some great sights to see, people to meet – oh don’t mind the three bodies in that old mine... Leave those to Sheriff Doug Harrison – he’ll probably get the FBI for help – hmmmmm that’ll be fine. 

But if you want to get real results, you’ll want to be getting in touch with Ronin Nash – a methodical and brilliant ex-FBI special agent who quit after a botched kidnapping left innocents dead. Now he spends his time restoring an old family lake house but maybe his old boss could get him back to crack this Finchley case. 

This review is part of the ninja Zooloo Book Tour for Nobody's Agent

Given the fact that Nobody’s Agent is a Ronin Nash adventure – it’s the least surprising plot development ever that he agrees reluctantly to take the job and travel to Finchley. If only it was only that simple – there are secrets, lies, and death awaiting in this small town, can Nash profile the killer(s) and track them down? Only one way to find out and that is to buy this slick and engaging crime thriller, it’s the first book in Stuart Field's Ronin Nash series and if the rest are as page-turning and exciting as this, crime fans are in for a treat! 

The plot crackles with double-crosses, clues and danger. If you’re looking for a mystery thriller, Nobody’s Agent will blow you away. Field is obviously a serious fan of the genre – this book kicks like the gritty True Detective (which is probably my favourite crime show) and by the end, you’ll be in awe of Nash’s crime-busting skills. 

Exclusive photo of Ronin Nash, erm, I mean Stuart Field!?

I got to ask Stuart some searching questions – have read of these (and then grab your copy of Nobody’s Agent!) 

Matt: If scientists ever managed to create a giant mecha version of you – who or what would be your nemesis?   

Stuart: Probably Godzilla: you just know it would have to be. 

Matt: What is the most thrilling fictional scene you’ve ever read or watched in a book/film of any genre?

Stuart: That’s a hard one, really; there have been so many. Possibly the cable car fight scene from ‘Where Eagles Dare.’ Movie. 

Matt: If you were hired to throw a parade of any scale or theme through the centre of London what type of parade would it be?

Stuart: Madre Gras possibly, that would be fun to see.   

Matt: Who inspires you most (can be living or dead)?   

Stuart: So many people, it is hard to choose. It is easy to say ‘Oh, Lee Child’ or someone, but in truth, people, and the things they do are an inspiration. But I had to choose, I would say new writers, people on that journey for the first time. 

Matt: There’s a masked assailant with a gun to your head, who is most likely to be under the mask?  

Stuart: Hopefully, someone who doesn’t know about guns. I’d like to think I haven’t pissed anyone off enough for it to come to that. 

Matt: What is the meaning of life?   

Stuart: Life is there to be lived, so live it.   

Matt: What was the best gift you’ve ever been given?   

Stuart: My daughter.   

Matt: If you could have a sidekick robot – what would it be able to do for you?

Stuart: Here is to the zombie apocalypse.     

Matt: What would you like written on your tombstone? 

Stuart: Make a good brew. 

Matt: Any final words you like to add...   

Stuart: Thanks for taking the time to ask me these questions.      

Out of a potential 5 - you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööööö

(5 - Nobody's Agent should be everyone's crime thriller of choice!)

Get your copy of Nobody's Agent here:

HANDY SHOPPING LINK

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Matt is smited by a Mad God (review)

MAD GOD (18)

Dir. Phil Tippet (@PhilTippett)

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

"Ready your eyes. Ready your souls..."

You are not ready for this - join a character only known as 'The Assassin' as he battles through a forbidding world of tortured souls, decrepit bunkers, and wretched monstrosities forged from the most primordial horrors of the subconscious mind. Directed by Phil Tippett (Star Wars, Robocop 2, Jurassic Park), the world's pre-eminent stop motion animator, every set, creature, and effigy in this macabre masterpiece is painstakingly animated using traditional stop-motion techniques.

 
Yes, that's right - MAD GOD is a fully practical stop-motion film set in a Miltonesque world of monsters, mad scientists, and war pigs. That's about all there is in terms of plot - something about The Assassin trying to follow a disintegrating map, being captured and passing the batten on to fellew assassin, but don't worry too much about that...

This is a film to open your mind to and let it do terrible things to your subconscious!

 
Background: In 1987, legendary visual effects and stop-motion craftsman Phil Tippett embarked upon an ambitious personal project, fabricating and animating a darkly surreal world in which the creatures and nightmares of his imagination could roam free. Phil produced dozens of environments and hundreds of puppets for the project, filling notebook after notebook with thousands of detailed sketches and storyboards.

 
It's hard to believe but each piece of MAD GOD is hand-crafted, independent and created from the heart. Sometimes that heart is bursting with love for the craft, while other times it's macabre, punctured, and bleeding. MAD GOD is a mature film crafted from techniques & technologies that span the history of cinema and the career of a true animation mastermind.

Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööööö

(5 - wow - let it do terrible things to your subconscious...)

Awesomeness ööööö – Freakshow in every sense of the word

Laughs ööö – Some very dark gross-out comedy

Horror öööö – Visuals here that will disturb!

Spiritual Enlightenment öö - Only Mad Gods in the building

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Matt Chokes Back The Tears (review)

Choke Back The Tears

Mark Richards (@MRichardsWrites)

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@cleric20)

“His had round my throat. Standing over me. Black, heavy shoes, dripping with water. ‘Say goodbye, Brady. Time to stamp on your f*&king face… ”

Here we are then - an all expenses paid trip to Whitby via Mark Richards’s new crime thriller - full title: Choke Back the Tears : A Yorkshire Coast Crime Thriller (Michael Brady Book 4) . I haven’t read books 1-3 but found that this was an enjoyable who/why dunnit which follows the investigation into the brutal murder of a retired couple.

DI Brady has been described as the ‘Yorkshire Rebus’ but he isn’t much of an action hero, a dodgy hamstring sees him limping about by the end. I’m not sure he’s the sort of chap I’d really wanna hang out with either but his is earnest in his quest to find out wha happened and bring the perp to justice. He’s only got a small team - police forces not having huge budgets these days I guess? and that rings true. The team are meticulous though and the dragnet slowly closes on who could be the murderers in a believable style - even if the showdown on a fishing boat isn’t the sort of stuff that will get Hollywood calling.

I liked how a lot of the book deals with Brady’s internal thoughts - in a kind of Manhunter way he mulls over the evidence aided by the plucky young Frankie who he has a fatherly regard for. Speaking of being a father, Brady has Ash his daughter to help prop him up - his being a widower, although he does have a faithful dog Archie for company too.

All in all Choke Back The Tears is a decent crime-em-up that will suit fans of the genre, and if you like it the good news is that there are 3 more you can go back and grab.

Not sure what this visual is getting at - but if you're a crime fan you might crack it...

Here’s the official blurb:

Michael Brady looked at Sandra Garrity’s face. Grey skin. Bloodshot eyes open. Blue lips, her

tongue protruding.

“Did you watch your husband die, Sandra? Or did he watch you die?”

“Brilliant. Brady is fast becoming the Yorkshire Rebus.”

Billy and Sandra were childhood sweethearts.

Writing their names on a lovelock. Fastening it to the end of Whitby pier. Throwing the key into the sea.

A lifetime together. A happy retirement in a peaceful hamlet on the North Yorkshire Moors.

Until the day they were brutally murdered.

“Whoever did this – he didn’t do it quickly. And he enjoyed it…”

Billy was a fisherman, making a living in the cold, cruel North Sea. One night his boat went down.

Two crewmen drowned. Billy survived.

Are the families looking for revenge? It’s the obvious conclusion.

But why have they waited so long?

Why have they killed Billy and Sandra?

And why kill them in such a barbaric way? “This isn’t a murder, Mike. It’s an execution. A

medieval execution.”

Choke Back the Tears is the fourth book in the Michael Brady series.

Kershaw’s away, Brady’s in charge. The bucks stops on his desk. But at least Frankie Thomson is

back to help him. For now…

There are no clues. No motives. It’s a perfect crime scene.

All Brady has is his experience and his intuition. And his small team is getting smaller by the day…

Meanwhile, he’s battling problems in his personal life. His daughter Ash wants to know the truth

about her mother’s death. Brady can’t put off telling her any longer.

He’s having doubts about everything. Even the memory of his dead wife.

Choke Back the Tears is the most personal Brady book yet.

He has to find the killer.

He has to keep his team together.

And he owes his daughter an explanation.

Michael Brady needs a friend.

But he doesn’t have one…

The Michael Brady books are perfect for fans of J D Kirk, Jason Dalgleish, David Gatward, T G

Reid etc…

Out of a potential 5 - you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööö1/2

(3.5 - an effective crime tale with added Whitby sea spray!)

Get your copy of Choke Back The Tears here:

https://is.gd/VJBK4O

This review is part of the book blog tour for the title...

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Matt shelters from a CHROME SKY: The Three Devils (review)

CHROME SKY #1 The Three Devils

Steven Mcccumaskey (@EVCComicsBooks)

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

“What they had done had ignited something inside her and this was too much. Too great a sin, even for the Three Devils Gang.”

The future is going to be rough, I’m talking Mad Max crossed with Westworld kinda rough. Under the unrelenting Chrome Sy on a desolate planet, very bad things are happening. What would happen if an outlaw bounty hunter suddenly developed a conscience after leaving a young boy crippled in a robbery? 

Would this sword-wielding force of nature turn on the others of the gang, who have been only happy to steal her share of the loot and disappear into the gun-metal dunes of the great iron desert?

CHROME SKY: The Three Devils tells this ‘what if’ and it does it with considerable style. Steven ‘Metal Bastard Adventures’ Muccumaskey who writes and illustrates this tome. The art is dark and has a dangerous feel to it, being mostly black, grey, white and red. The characters are nicely created and look real mean in a silhouette. The action crackles with a whiplash energy that leaves you wanting more – as all good comics do.

I’ll be excited to see where this series goes next after this solid start!

The official blurb reads: A mythic cyberpunk western that fuses illustrated prose with dynamic comic book storytelling, Envision Comics presents... CHROME SKY. 

I had the chance to ask Steven some questions - read on if you dare to find out more about this creative force...

Matt: If scientists ever managed to create a giant mecha version of you – who or what would be your nemesis?

Steven: Rain - all that rust would cause no end of problems.

Matt: What is the most disturbing fictional scene you’ve ever read or watched in a book/film of any genre?

Steven: From Game of Thrones - Stannis Baratheon burning his daughter Shireen alive is something I could happily never watch again. Mine you, I could say the same about the end of the final season.

Matt: If you were hired to throw a parade of any scale or theme through the centre of London what type of parade would it be?

Steven: A thrash metal-themed parade that was essentially a massive moving metal festival through the streets. 🤘

Matt: You’re in a strange town with £100,000 that you have to spend in a single evening – talk me through what you get up to…

Steven: If this town is as strange as I think it is, I'll run for hills with that loot before someone tries to steal it and leave me for dead.

Matt: Who inspires you most (can be living or dead)?

Steven: Creatively - Cormac McCarthy.  My favourite writer for sure. Also, TV painter Bob Ross from the show The Joy of Painting - I love that guy! 

Matt: There’s a masked assailant with a gun to your head, who is most likely to be under the mask?

Steven: Probably my best friend putting me through the whole ordeal as a prank.

Matt: What is the meaning of life?

Steven: To do what you want to do, not what you think you're supposed to do. This isn't a rehearsal.

Matt: What was the best gift you’ve ever been given?

Steven: My wife put some of my comic art on a canvas once as a surprise birthday gift, which totally made me feel like a proper artist! 😆

Matt: If you could have a sidekick robot – what would it be able to do for you?

Steven: Impersonate me so convincingly that I would essentially have a secret clone my disposal.

Matt: What would you like written on your tombstone?

Steven: 'I'm too old for this shit.'

Out of a potential 5 - you have to go with a Darkmatters:

öööö

(4 - Reap the cyber-whirlwind!! )

Get your copy of CHROME SKY: The Three Devils

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Matt finds International Treasure - thanks to The Utopia Strong (review)

 International Treasure

The Utopia Strong - Steve Davis, Kavus Torabi & Michael J York (@StrongUtopia) 

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

I had the immense pleasure of bumping into six-time world champion snooker legend Steve Davis at the launch of the equally legendary Bryan Talbot’s new graphic novel of Luther Arkwright.

We got to talking and it transpires that Steve has a band – The Utopia Strong – and they have a funky new ambient album ‘International Treasure’ so I said I’d take a listen… As a fan of music by The Orb, College, Tangerine Dream and Vangelis – International Treasure ticks a lot of those boxes…

Steve (centre) and the excellent sci-fi genius Adrian Tchaikovsky 

First track Trident Of Fire comes pre-packed with menace and darkness like the fuse of a mind-altering musical bomb from which you cannot escape, but before you know what’s happening you’re in a good place.

Then it’s cyberpunk a go go with Persephone Sleeps that would make a great chill-out for Neo and crew’s Matrix downtime. Shepherdess starts slow and swirls an ambient mist around and through your brain canals before cow bells and the buzz of drones change the tempo. 

There is a fun mix of tracks here that make quality listening for anyone looking to escape this uncertain post-Brexit world and find digital solace from the storm of everyday life. Speaking of storms the track Disaster 2 has a delicious rainfall opening that evokes being cosy and warm – possibly with a good glass of whisky in hand – while the elements do their thing outside. Then it morphs into bagpipes and more…

It's this eclectic curation of fascinating mashed-up sounds that makes International Treasure an album worthy of gracing anyone’s digital library and/or streaming choice. When the title track hits, it comes bringing the gifts of feeling like the probable anxiety experienced by astronauts as they spin through the void. The final track Castalia is an upbeat tune that wouldn’t have been out of place at a Moby all-nighter show. 

There might not be a remix trance version of Snooker Loopy but otherwise, this is a fantastic trip to take and shows that Steve and crew are a musical force to be reckoned with!

Out of a potential 5 - you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööööö

(5 - An ambient delight - plugging directly into your mind recommended)

Get your copy of INTERNATIONAL TREASURE

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Matt takes a Red Rocket (review) to the frontal lobe

Red Rocket (18)

Dir. Sean Baker

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@cleric20)

“Let’s give it a couple of days, and see how it goes…”

“Yeah. Whatever you’re comfortable with. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I’m here to help. And, look, before long, it’ll be like we’re still married.”

“WE ARE STILL MARRIED.”

I fell hard for Sean Baker’s last film The Florida Project (my ‘film of the year’ review) and so it was with high expectations I went into Red Rocket… Fuelled by the powerhouse of an incredible charismatic turn by actor, rapper, comedian and one-time porn performer Simon Rex, who has a ball as washed-up adult movie actor ‘Mikey Saber’. The plot sees Mikey’s sexy film business in LA where he ‘stars’ in high-brow franchises like ‘The Fast and Fury Ass’ – he takes the Paul Walker role (but whose untimely death put a stop to his involvement!?).

Beaten up and broke, we get to follow Mikey as he returns to his estranged wife’s home in Texas - his plan is to beg his former leading porn lady Lexi (Bree Elrod), but finds her still incredibly pissed off with him at first but she eventually relents and gives him a chance. Mikey, to his credit, does pay the rent and performs his “marital” bedroom duties with aplomb as it is after all his main skillset.

'could it be love?"

Red Rocket is another tour-of-duty by Baker who takes us on a safari through the lives of these dirt-poor, uneducated and pretty hopeless rust-belt underclasses. These are folks who you want to root for but who continually make terrible decisions that lead to destructive outcomes that you’ll want to weep for them. With legit work hard to come by Mikey starts dealing weed - to workmen who visit a local doughnut shop - where he immediately falls for the young ‘Strawberry’ (a fantastic Suzanna Son).

He is convinced she is a potential natural at the adult film game and his ticket back to the triple-X big time. And she looks up to him for the dubious honour of having won a porn ‘Oscar’ for ‘best oral’ - although full disclosure - he had to share it with ten other men who were also ‘serviced’ by the same woman.  

'life is good...'

The tragic tale is set against the backdrop of Clinton vs Trump Presidential Campaign and there is much you could read into the tale about how little macro world events resonate with these people. This vivid, real-feeling and moderately budgeted stylish fable is as heartbreaking as it is amusing. There is horror in a multi-vehicle pileup which impacts the lives of Mikey in more than just an allegory of his car crash of a life.

If there’s any justice in the world Mikey should be a cinematic cult icon of the future, his fast-talking hustler predator stare and easy-winning charm is incredibly watchable. The climax leaves you breathless and broken in equal measure - what future for the star-crossed lovers Mikey and Strawberry?? 

Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööööö

(5 - Stunning underbelly adult thrills...)

Awesomeness ööööö – Joy and pain, love and other hardships

Laughs ööö – Wry fun but not a comedy

Horror ööö – Real life can and will very likely break you

Spiritual Enlightenment ööö - God doesn't feature here

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