Ridiculously over-the-top, unrated horror comedy is a punishing parody
Author: Robert Skuch Published
When a beloved character like EC Segar’s Popeye becomes public domain after copyright expires, filmmakers are free to do whatever they want with a similar image, for better or worse. 2023 has dealt us a devastating blow Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honeywhich brought us last year rat trapan equally violent and absurd performance Steamboat Willie. This year, our favorite spinach-loving sailor with a heart of gold makes the list Popeye the KillerIt’s an aggressive, violent and thoughtful look at the life and times of a man who used his giant forearms simply for revenge.
“I am my yam”
Popeye the Killer It is the brainchild of screenwriter John Duran and director Robert Michael Ryan. Set almost entirely in the long-abandoned Anchor Bay Cannery, we see our angry antagonist smoking his corncob pipe without breaking a sweat and smashing his head into pieces. As the story begins, we learn about the cannery through the shady dealings of real estate tycoon Lex Alistair (Richard Lawnero) and his lawyer Margot Harrigan (Angela Relucio). Margot raises concerns about the contamination scandal that led to the cannery’s closure decades ago, and Lex dismisses her concerns with a practiced confidence that suggests he’s definitely hiding something.
Then we’re introduced to Dexter (Sean Michael Conway), an aspiring documentary filmmaker obsessed with the local Sailorman urban legend. He wants to break into the cannery with his long-time crush Olivia (Elena Juliano) before it is sold and demolished. Joining them are Lisa (Marie-Louise Boignier), her love interest Seth (Jeff Thomas) and their mutual friend Katie (Mabel Thomas). Katie’s jealous, cantankerous boyfriend Joey (Steven McCormack) doesn’t like her friendship with Dexter, prompting him to take a trip to the cannery with his friends Jesse (Clayton Turner) and Terry (Paul Coryer).
Dirty spinach and senseless violence
The reason I’m giving you a full character overview Popeye the Killer Because this is a terrorist attack in numbers, you need to understand the death toll we’re dealing with. Almost as soon as they enter Anchor Bay Cannery, Dexter’s friends start dropping like flies. As the Mariners defended their turf, heads were scalped, bones were broken, shots were fired, and others were impaled. Meanwhile, Dexter and Olivia discover the truth about the tainted cans of spinach that escaped the factory before it closed permanently, and the resulting cover-up. They have every reason to believe that Sailor Man was once an ordinary person who ate a dangerous product and became the monster they are now trying to escape.
That’s it…
similar movies Popeye the Killerexists solely to exploit iconic intellectual property in the most immature and confusing way possible and should clearly not be taken seriously. Half the fun is watching a healthy dose of legacy characters act entirely out of pocket because it’s fair game, and coming up with crazy backstories is part of the charm. As a horror film, this entry works because Duran and Ryan put real effort into crafting an origin story that supports the absurdity they embrace.
if you grow up in love Popeye Sailor Manprepare to have your world turned upside down by the “truth” that has apparently been buried for decades, because he won’t give up without a fight. The explanations for his facial deformity, giant appendages, and supernatural powers work surprisingly well in a horror setting, while the lore surrounding his tragic past pushes him into urban legend territory, and if you’re willing to get involved for the love of the game, its lore is truly compelling.
Popeye the Killer Stream for free on Tubi.
