It’s that time again! Welcome to #TrailerTuesday, where we look at some trailers that are action/martial arts related, catch our eye and make us excited. This week’s trailers include a Muay Thai movie, an international cast of A-List ass kickers, and hyper violent battles with blood and guts (literally)! Without further ado, let’s begin #TrailerTuesday!
Trailer Tuesday
Directed by Nick Sasso
Fight Director Zoë Bell
Starring Zoë Bell, Udo Kier, D.B. Sweeney, Veronica Falcón, Nick Sasso, Nomi Ruiz
Plot: Haymaker follows a retired Muay Thai fighter (Sasso) working as a bouncer, who rescues an alluring transgender performer (Ruiz) from a nefarious thug, eventually becoming her bodyguard, protector and confidant. The relationship leads Sasso’s character to make an unexpected return to fighting, risking not only his relationship, but his life.
Film Fan Dojo reaction: The trend of “fight movies” continues in Haymaker. This time instead of MMA, Muay Thai is the highlighted fighting style. Haymaker has a timely and unique plot which makes it a more interesting story than some of the fight movies coming out. We get glimpses of the brutality of in-ring Muay Thai, training sequences (which are personal favorites) and the all too familiar “down and out fighter come back” story. The action is being handled by the very capable Zoë Bell, a member of the acclaimed 87 eleven Action Team, who we can see in the trailer as a Muay Thai coach. Let’s hope Haymaker packs a one-two punch. The film is set to release on January 29, 2021 from Hood River Entertainment.
The 355
Directed by Simon Kinberg
Fight Director James O’Donnell
Starring Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong’o, Bingbing Fan, Penélope Cruz, Sebastian Stan, Edgar Ramírez
Plot: When a top-secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, a wild card CIA agent joins forces with three international agents on a lethal mission to retrieve it, while staying a step ahead of a mysterious woman who’s tracking their every move.
Film fan Dojo reaction: The ladies take center stage in this trailer and things get explosive real quick. From the studio that brought Jason Bourne we get more international thriller and hijinks. Let’s hope they have learned from the shortcomings of the shaky cam-style fights riddled throughout the Bourne series! The action looks like the typical standard fight scenes that characterize these types of movies that seem to be more about the A-list stars and the big budget rather than the quality of the action. Fight director James O’Donnell (Artemis Foul, Kick Ass 2) manages some cool looking stuff in the trailer: a nice snippet of Bingbing Fan taking out some guys with a long staff, Lupita Nyongo (Black Panther) in a multiple person fight scene, Jessica Chastain doing some moves in her training, though. All in all The 355 looks to be what Charlie’s Angels hoped it could be. I will give this a view and hope that shaky cam is kept to a minimum (I highly doubt it) and we get to see these ladies kick international bad guy ass!
The 355 is expected to be released in theaters January 2022.
Exiled: The Chosen Ones
Directed by Ranjeet S. Marwa
Fight Director Nick Khan
Plot: After a man-made virus failed to reduce the world’s overpopulated areas, global leaders would start a new program that would legitimize a new venture in a game show. The game would be broadcast live, where random contestants would be exiled into a concrete jungle, forced to kill each other for their freedom. Viewers would place their bets on who had a chance at survival. Be that as it may…no one survives the game.
Film Fan Dojo reaction: Violence!!!! Wait, did I see someone with bloody guts in their hands just to be chucked away? Plot be damned, Exiled looks like it is going to be escapist violent fun! We get cast members Sunny Pang and Hanna Al Rashid of the hyper violent The Night Comes for Us (2018); Sunny Pang’s character has a hammer and some dudes got shotguns! Action is handled by the more than capable Nick Khan (Tribal: Get Out Alive and the upcoming MCU movie The Eternals) who choreographed some brutal fight scenes in Tribal: Get Out Alive and is one of the most talented, if not underrated, up and coming fight choreographers! No shaky cam here as we some hand to hand, hand to weapon fight clips in this trailer! I am definitely looking forward to this film. Exiled: The Chosen Ones is scheduled for a 2021 release date. For more info on the film and the exact release date you can follow the film’s IG account.
Which films did we miss? What trailers have you excited? Please leave your comments below.
Film Fan Dojo wishes you Happy Holiday and a very Happy New Year!