In recent times, Canada has been a resurgent home for a retro-inspired thread of cult horror that pays homage to the cult cinema of the past (whether it be cheap 80s sci-fi or 70s euro sexploitation) while being absolutely evanescent in its own unique and irreverent attitude.

This wave has been led by the likes of Astron-6 and the Soska Sisters, and now a new team of Canuck filmmakers are ready to push it to the limit with a hyperactive, campy sci-fi, gore-laden throwback that promises to be one of the most unique and zany offerings of this year’s event, Turbo Kid.

Beginning life as a short film made for a competition to be included as the letter ‘T’ in ABCs of Death, Turbo Kid is set in the post-apocalyptic world of 1997 (can’t get much more awesome than that can you?) where a young teen obsessed with comic books and dreams of super heroism does his best to survive in the Wasteland. However, after stumbling upon a lost secret of the past and an item of great power, he finds himself up against the fearful dictator Zeus who controls the last remaining water supply, and has kidnapped his mysterious and charming friend Apple.

With her life on the line, the kid must find the hero within to save her and free the land from the grip of the maniacal Zeus. Quite clearly inspired by Mad Max and the bonkers Euro rip offs such as The New Barbarians that followed, Turbo Kid promises outlandish violence, stunts, gleeful gore and an honest heart that beats for the love of a cinema that has been lost in the wake of modern blockbuster culture. Turbo Kid is set to be an opening night (August 27) riot!

To get you in the mood for triple-director Francois Simard/Anouk Whissell/Yoann-Karl Whissell’s offering, here’s a trailer:

About The Author

Simon Fitzjohn

Simon is a journalism tutor in London, who also just happens to be a movie fanatic, with a craving for the darker side of cinema. He has written two books, one on the horror films of director Bob Clark (2014) and the other on the history of the character Norman Bates (2015). His third book, on the work of British exploitation director Pete Walker, is due in 2017.