Blastfighter is an explosive masterpiece you probably missed if you weren't glued to your VHS player in the mid-80s. Directed by Lamberto Bava, son of the legendary Italian filmmaker Mario Bava, 'Blastfighter' roared onto the screen in 1984, sparking both controversy and admiration. Set in the rustic yet rugged American landscape—though actually shot in Georgia, because let's be honest, America is the best backdrop for an action flick—this film is the testosterone-fueled fever dream starring Michael Sopkiw as Jake 'Tiger' Sharp.
Jake, a disgruntled former cop fresh out of the slammer for a crime that was barely his fault, stumbles back into town hoping to find some peace. Instead, in true action hero fashion, he finds chaos as he battles against a corrupt system. The plot brings out the full might of a character who bears no restraint in seeking vengeance. He wields a weapon of mass destruction—a fully automatic shotgun, which might just be the best '80s action weapon you've never heard of.
Critics might jab 'Blastfighter' for being a product of its time, but aren’t the good ones always? When audiences first encountered Jake Sharp, the quintessential American hero, they realized his personality wasn't all that alien. An honest man driven to the brink by a corrupt world? Sounds about right. He had every reason to lose faith in the system that wronged him, and every good reason to take justice into his own hands.
The laid-back, small-town setting where everyone seems to know everyone gives you the right amount of tension—a place where societal norms are paper thin and justice is not uniformly administered. Some might see the tranquility of rural America, but for Jake, it's a minefield of dishonesty and betrayal.
What skyrockets 'Blastfighter' to its cult status is its persistent, and some say exaggerated, approach to justice and retribution. The 1980s were a simpler time when heroes were bold, muscles were big, and emotions were measured in explosions per minute. 'Blastfighter' checks all these boxes.
The film doesn't disappoint on the action front. Explosions? Check. Car chases on dusty back roads? Check. The obligatory face-off with the villain, that's not quite Die Hard, but still, a showdown worth the price of admission? Check, check, check! It's not for the weak-hearted or the easily offended. In 'Blastfighter', testosterone is as abundant as the endless woods our hero rampages through.
The movie dared to explore themes of justice and human resilience in the face of systemic failure. In today's cultural climate where some demand coddling and safe spaces, 'Blastfighter' is the slap of reality that our snowflake society needs. 'Blastfighter' challenges viewers to consider what happens when good men are driven to the edge. The film asks us what becomes of the lawful when the law itself is lawless.
Are there cheap thrills and over-the-top scenarios? You bet. That's what makes 'Blastfighter' essential viewing. It’s unapologetic in its delivery and brutal in its storytelling. The film does not offer apologies for presenting carefully wrapped moral lessons that fit current popular dogma. It delivers a raw, rugged punch of justice. And in an era where perpetual outrage seems to be the order of the day, maybe that's precisely what we need.
Now, the reason liberals might frown upon 'Blastfighter' is simple. Its tale of a lone, angry man setting out to right the wrongs he's suffered mirrors our broader societal debates on accountability and self-reliance. Unlike the lengthy workshops on morality and endless contemplations that some prefer, 'Blastfighter' gives you action in place of discourse and reality in place of rhetoric.
It's not just action lovers who find merit in 'Blastfighter'. The film is also a cinematic gem for its unique place in the Italian-style American action genre. It stands as a testament to an era of film where bravado met brilliance and dared to depict strong heroes who don't just write sternly worded letters but take concrete action.
Lamberto Bava crafted a reminder that not all heroes wear capes, some of them wield oversized guns. Jake Sharp is the vigilante who won’t wait for an apology from wrongdoers, nor demand one. He acts. For an audience that craves genuine action and authentic justice, 'Blastfighter' checks all boxes.
The journey through 'Blastfighter' is explosive, much like Jake Sharp’s temperament. It’s more than a movie; it's a rallying cry for individuality, justice, and the rule of law as it was meant to serve the people, not piston them into subservience. If you want to capture a part of the action and relive the uncomplicated thrill of unfiltered justice, dig out that dusty VHS player (or find a streaming service that carries this classic), and relish in the spectacle that only films like 'Blastfighter' can offer.