Manborg

An Astron-6 Video Intl. production. (Worldwide sales: Astron-6, Winnipeg.) Produced, directed, edited by Steven Kostanski. Script, Kostanski, Jeremy Gillespie.With: Matthew Kennedy, Adam Brooks, Conor Sweeney, Jeremy Gillespie, Meredith Sweeney, Ludwig Lee, Andrea Karr, Mike Kostanski, Kyle Hebert.Enjoyably absurd "Manborg" finds Canadian film collective Astron-6 parodying the Reagan era's most disposable VHS sci-fi features, much like their concurrent "Father's Day" mocks its low-finish horror product. Throwing dystopian actioners, videogames, anime much more of other eighties cultural detritus together in one hourlong package, the pic seems an unlikely candidate for theatrical play given its 60-minute runtime. But fanboy types must have ample fun from it via fantasy-fest exposure and home-format release. P rigueur opening text scroll notifies that some years from now, mankind has fought against against and lost the "Hell Wars" in the armies of Hades in addition to their diabolical leader, Count Draculon (Adam Brooks). Apparently destroyed inside the latest skirmishes, our nameless hero energizes transformed by Dr. Scorpius (Brooks again) in to a half-guy, half-machine manborg. Consequently, he's prone to fight inside the "Terroropticon," fighting monsters alongside fellow captives, including stoic martial-arts warrior No. 1 Guy (Ludwig Lee, given a particularly absurd named voice by Kyle Hebert), inevitable tough chick Mina (Meredith Sweeney), and her constantly pissed-off brother, Justice (Conor Sweeney, sporting an exaggerated Aussie accent in presumed recognition in the "Mad Max" series). Several gladiator-type challenges then one training montage later, the protags clearly set their sights on destroying the all-effective count themselves, additionally to his henchpersons: the Baron (Jeremy Gillespie), a skull-faced baddie who frequently breaks to pitch bashful woo at Mina, and sexy dragon lady Shadow Mega (Andrea Karr). Naturally, there is a catfight. Every advanced genre convention from roughly two-and-a-half decades ago will be here, within the cheesy synth score to presenting primitive miniatures, greenscreen and stop-motion-style f/x. Script also includes such inspiring nuggets as, "The power in the human spirit will not be obsolete!" "Manborg" isn't a lot a spoof of "Avoid NY," "The Terminator," "Tron" as well as the aforementioned early eighties films since it is a salute for the worst of people pics' myriad direct-to-video ripoffs.Camera (color, HD), Kostanski, Adam Brooks music, John Wiacek, Jeremy Gillespie effects makeup/animation, Kostanski fight choreography, Ludwig Lee, Kostanski appear, Gillespie. Examined on DVD, San Francisco Bay Area, November. 4, 2011. (In Fantastic Fest, Toronto During The Night Film Festival.) Running time: 60 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com