The creative brains behind Danger 5, Dario Russo and David Ashby, adhere to a 'more is more' philosophy in their storytelling. They wear their '80s genre references on their sleeves, in the retro-themed schlock, gore and violence of their tale of indefatiguable Hitler-hunters.
It follows, then, that their own watchlist of movies at SBS on Demand is chock full of B-Movies and parodies, with more than a passing nod to nostalgia. Enjoy.
Source: dario
Godzilla: Final Wars
(Ryûhei Kitamura, 2004)
Frankly, this one's a no-brainer for the boys who wrote a scene featuring monster truck-driving dinosaurs (in Danger 5 series 2). “It’s supposed to be the last ever Godzilla movie out of Japan. It’s the definitive end of the Godzilla series so they gave it everything they possibly could, to really put a full stop on the franchise.” David says: “Dario introduced me to it back in 2005, and I saw it at the Mercury cinema in Adelaide. “It’s a really good introduction to the Godzilla series, because it features almost every major monster, and it lampoons the 1998 American Godzilla movie. It makes really good fun of it.” Keep an eye out for the cheesy cameo from moustachioed ex-UFC fighter Don Frye (“he’s dubbed; it’s hilarious”).
JCVD
(Mabrouk El Mechri, 2008)
David recalls seeing this with Dario at the Adelaide Film Festival in 2009 (“How good am I with dates?!”). A “weird” cross between a heist thriller and an existential drama, JCVD “toys the audience nostalgia and the mythology of Jean Claude Van Damme” to make you sit up and take notice when it delves into the mindset of the ‘muscles from Brussels’, to make a frank, “introspective assessment of his life”.
Oss 117: Cairo - Nest Of Spies
(Michel Hazanavicius, 2006)
“Whenever we mention Danger 5 to French people, I use OSS 117 as a point of reference,” says David. “It’s a really well made spy parody spoof and Jean Dujardain rocks in it. It’s very silly and lots of fun.” Dario agrees, “The sequel’s great too – watch both of them if you get the chance.” (Editor’s note: You’ve got the chance – that’s available right there).
Source: SBS
Troll Hunter
(André Øvredal, 2010)
David and Dari both confess that they’re not usually all that fond of found footage movies, but they like the droll ideas at work in this Norwegian mock-doc festival favourite. Dario cautions: “The less you know it going in, the better”, so we’ll keep it brief. Just the basics: There’s a secret government program aimed at keeping the local troll population from knocking down power poles, trampling the environment and feasting on the dwindling population of Christian folk.
Robogeisha
(Noboru Iguchi, 2009)
So, this one’s a bit of an acquired taste, with a sky-high WTF? factor. Two sisters are given a very extreme makeover in order to become bikini-clad cyborg assassins. Their weapons* of choice are unique and effective, and fit neatly within the contours of their anatomies: “When I strike a sexy pose, swords come out”. You get the picture. Oh, and there’s also a complicated sub-plot involving a vomiting robot castle but let’s not spoil the surprise. Or lunch.
Source: SBS Movies
Strippers Vs Werewolves
(Jonathan Glendening, 2012)
Another one you wouldn’t necessarily watch with your mum, Strippers Vs Werewolves features an epic battle between Flesh and Fur (kind of like that time Dario and David had a lion man hose down bikini models with a water cannon). Here the fun starts when an exotic dancer at the Vixens strip club accidently kills a lusty lycanthrope, and the deceased’s relatives come seeking revenge.
Source: SBS Movies
Big Man Japan
(Hitoshi Matsumoto, 2007)
Even superheroes get the blues. Big Man Japan tells the story of Daisoto, a malcontent and monster-killer, who does the government’s bidding each time a fire-breathing behemoth starts terrorising the city. Daisoto’s fed up with snapping on his oversized underpants at the drop of a hat, and Dario and David love the warped humour and melancholy at play in the dilemma of the reluctant superhero.
Source: Madman Films
Manitou's Shoe
(Michael Herbig, 2001)
You don’t need to know the backstory to enjoy this wacky western, but it’s a winkingly off-colour send-up of a series of the popular Winnetou & Old Shatterhand German Westerns of the ’60s, which spawned the Italian Spaghetti Westerns that Dario and David know and love. The plot, such as it is, revolves around the search for all four pieces of a ripped treasure map. The quest brings the two heroes in touch with every stereotype you can imagine. This equal opportunity offender is big, dumb fun, and it did huge business in Germany.
Source: SBS Movies
Ferpect Crime
(Alex de la Iglesia, 2004)
You may never shop retail again after watching this madcap Spanish comedy set inside a successful department store. The head of womenswear will stop at nothing for the coveted promotion to floor manager, even bumping off his arch rival in the process. The arrival of a reality TV crew complicates matters, and what was a Jerry Lewis farce takes on hints of Hitchcock.
Source: SBS
Torrente: The Dumb Arm Of The Law
(Santiago Segura, 1998)
This is the first film in the wildly successful Spanish franchise about a disgraced ex- police officer – with sweaty combover and prominent belly – who acts like he never left the force. In between pursuing the nymphomaniac downstairs, Torrente investigates a possible drug ring operating out of the local Chinese restaurant. The dark satire shares a thing or two with the Danger 5 worldview – just with more swearing, belching and bodily fluids.
Source: SBS Movies
* SBS doesn't charge access fees for its SBS On Demand service. ISP and data charges may apply for individual users.
