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Review

Meet Marko Zaror, Chile’s first martial arts icon. He has the quickness of Jackie Chan, the fighting skill of Jet Li and the physical prowess of The Rock (for whom he served as stunt double). In this, his second feature, he plays Maco, a strip club bouncer by day, aspiring martial artist by night. On his walk home one night, Maco prevents an attempted rape. At first, he doesn’t think twice about the event. But when the news clip of him saving the woman revitalizes his previously traumatized brother, he decides to become a superhero complete with an alternate persona in the hopes of once again inspiring his sibling. Director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza — a childhood friend of Zaror’s — injects a strong sense of craft into what could otherwise be a standard issue action flick. Using long takes and the freedom of a handheld camera, he applies the aesthetics of French New Wave cinema to Maco’s superhero misadventures, and the results are hilarious and exciting. Zaror as the brawn and Espinoza as the brains prove once and for all that it doesn’t take a big budget or a 50-man stunt team to kick ass. (Spanish with English subtitles)

 -- Michael Lerman