Samurai Cop - A gloriously inept Lethal Weapon wannabe

A crowning jewel of the bad movie canon, Samurai Cop is what happens when you want to make Lethal Weapon but lack the talent and budget to achieve your dreams. Lacking in almost every category, this film still has managed to achieve internet infamy due to its nonsensical plot, often deliberately bad acting, confounding editing, bizarre cinematography and limitless production errors.

When renegade Yakuza known as the Katana Gang (‘It means Japanese sword,’ we’re helpfully informed) take over LA’s cocaine trade, it will take a cop who understands their ways to defeat their evil plan. Enter Joe Marshall – a samurai cop trained by the masters in Japan, played by former Sylvester Stallone bodyguard (and future art criminal) Matt Hannon. Together with his partner Frank Washington and a bevy of beautiful babes, Joe takes the fight to the Katana Gang, but not before destroying much of downtown LA in poorly choreographed car chases and kungfu battles.

The actors do what they can with what they’ve got, but blame (or praise?) lands fully at the feet of writer-producer-director Amir Shervan, an Iranian director who would stop at nothing to make the great American movie. Matt Hannon recalls: “Amir could not afford lighting to shoot at night .... We also wore their own clothes and drove their own cars. Much of the film was shot without sound and done with single takes. Amir had to dub voices months after production but could not get many of the bit part actors to return. Choosing to use his own voice, he warped it in post-production to sound different."

The result is a hilarious mess, but it’s a sincere mess. There’s a lot of fun to be had when hit the streets with Samurai Cop so join us when we decide if this movie is Rad, Bad Or Mad. Saturday 9 of March at 8pm at Sawtooth ARI Gallery.

Please RSVP by ordering a free ticket below, and bring a cash donation for our amazing hosts Sawtooth. BYO refreshments, warm clothes and other fun movie props.