Search - Left for Dead on DVD

Action... Action... Action...

Paul Nash | London, England | 08/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A gut wrenching bad ass brit flick that sets a whole new standard for Digital Video production; Left For Dead, combines quirky dialogue with dazzling action choreography that far exceeds it's budgetary limitations.



Set in the crime ridden city of, `Hope', Left For Dead tells the tale of Ben Williams, henchman to the sadistic gangster, `Kincaid'. After two long years Williams is tired of all the killing and other brutal activities in which he is involved, thus he decides to leave his life of crime behind...but no one ever leaves! Kincaid orders his best men, Dylan and Taylor to `remove' Williams from the scene. They attack and Williams is `Left For Dead'! Fortunately he escapes and makes his way to a back street surgeon who helps the beaten, bullet wounded and poisoned `anti-hero' on his road back to health.



Meanwhile, Danny Kelso, a promising young kickboxer has also felt the wrath of, `Kincaid'. When the talented Martial Artist refuses to throw a fight, his hands are broken by the psychopathic, Taylor. Ordered to leave the city, Kelso too visits, `The Surgeon'.



After several months of training Kelso reluctantly teams up with Williams to take on the criminal underworld of Hope with death or revenge their only option! And so, the fight-fest finale of Left For Dead ensues with a satisfying barrage of brutal and bloody Martial Arts action that is second to none.



Brought to the screen by UK based production company, `Modern Life?', Producer, Phil Hobden and Director/Editor, Ross Boyask have been more than successful in their quest to create `genre' cinema on location in England. Any fight fans tired of the relentless, mind numbing period dramas, that Britain so fondly generates should welcome Left For Dead with open arms!



Whilst, the cast and crew of Left For Dead are all virtually unknown, readers of Martial Arts magazines and genre websites, will recognise a few familiar names. Firstly, the awesome high kicking hitman, Williams is portrayed by Glenn Salvage. A veteran actor of over ten years Salvage is well known in the Martial Arts and film-making community. Bringing the role of Williams to life, Salvage sets the screen ablaze and quite frankly makes such on-screen heroes as Steven Seagal look ready for retirement.



Hard hitting, Andy Prior plays, Kelso and is no doubt a big talent to watch out for in the action film industry. The final battle of Left For Dead sees Andy pulling off some full throttle Hong Kong inspired moves without the aid of a stuntman or a bunch of wires to help him take flight!



Both Salvage and Prior are relentless in their roles and provide good strong and believable lead characters. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about all cast members and whilst bad guys Taylor and Dylan behold a vast array of hilarious one liners they aren't always delivered with the necessary talent to make then convincing. Also, the action featuring these guys at times seems slow and powerless. That said, give writer and star Adrian Foiadelli, (Taylor) a baseball bat and he quickly transforms into one mean son of a bitch!



At the other end of the spectrum, whilst the film is by no means an exercise in character development there are a few roles that maybe should have been extended, such as the appearance of producer PL Hobden as Boxing promoter, `Rourke' and the on-screen action featuring Cecily Fay as `Vixen'. Fay has all the right moves, looks fantastic and would make a great addition to the `Battling Babes' genre of action cinema. `Vixen' should definitely have seen more screen time!



In conclusion, Left For Dead, even with it's bad points lays the smack down on the competition and whilst America is currently producing a vast selection of Digital Video schlock, thanks to the cast and crew of Left For Dead, (even Vicki Vilas) Britain, for the first time in history is at the forefront of cutting edge action cinema. Now that is one hell of an achievement!



Make no mistake, Left For Dead is the real deal and the UK movie scene just got it's ass kicked! Grindhouse cinema welcomes a new dawn, Tarantino is the champion, Hobden and Boyask are the underdogs, but Left For Dead is just the beginning!

"

Great Stuff!

DanWilson | U.K. | 08/09/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this movie in Cannes and I thought it really kicked butt! It was a bit too long and sometimes drifts into comedy, but overall it was great stuff. The fight scenes are nicely shot and edited and they just keep going and going (which is what you want isn't it?). Fans of the genre have a treat in store for them. Get this one while you can and you can say that you spotted these guys first before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon!"

Hollywood Just Got It's Butt Kicked!

Acorns Under The Sun | Midlands, UK | 08/19/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yep it's true. Come in Hollywood your time is up.



Jackie. Jet. Woo. Stand aside.



I kid you not. This film has to be seen. Made for a 100,000th of the budget of your average Hollywood movie 'Left For Dead' boasts some of the most spectacular action you will see this year or any other.



First time director Boyask keeps the action coming thick and fast.



It's funny script, solid acting and dramatic storyline keep you entertained when the action lets go...



SEE THIS. Rent it. Buy it. JUST GET IT NOW!"

You Get Waht you Pay For...

High Kicking Supertsar | Florida, USA | 09/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You get what you pay for... and what you get here is a strong, funny and actioned packed British martial arts movie. Not perfect but bloody good fun and highlights that there is a movie industry outside of the borders of the USA.



What you see here is something, that if it had the weight of publicity thrown behind it like some major blockbusters, would have done a solid job in the cinema over hear in the states.



Not for everyone... it's bloody, violent and bloody violent but for anyone that likes Jet, Jackie, Van Damme and the like then this film will entertain.

"