One time mini-movie mogul Nico Mastorakis and his Omega Entertainment company were a staple of the VHS boom of the 1980s and early 90s. With the advent of Blu-Ray and boutique distribution labels his films have had a resurgence of late. While his bigger more action/horror hits (The Zero Boys, The Wind, Nightmare at Noon, Hired to Kill) have had their own prestigious individual releases, Arrow have put together some of his lesser known and more comedy leaning titles in a plush new boxset.
The Time Traveller
Directed by: Nico Mastorakis
Written by: Nico Mastorakis
Starring: Keir Dullea, Adrienne Barbeau, Peter Hobbs, Jeremy Licht
Year: 1984
Country: US/Greece
Running time: 105mins
BBFC Classification: 15
The Time Traveller (or The Next One as originally titled) was quite a change of pace for Nico after the gaudy heights of Death Has Blue Eyes, the extreme exploitation of Island of Death, and the horror/sci-fi vibes of Blind Date, it being a much more subdued and, dare say, mature offering: make it quite the oddity in a career full of oddities.
Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog) and her young son (Licht) live a quiet life on a remote albeit beautiful Greek island after the death of her husband. Coming to terms with their loss, the two eek out a quiet existence which is interrupted when they find an unconscious man (Dullea – 2001) washed up on their local beach. Brandished with an odd number on his back and with no memory of who he is, the two take him in (naming him, err, Glen!) helping him to piece together who he is. Is he a time traveller from the future, an escaped killer, or something more biblical?
A strange but not unlikable film from Nico’s oeuvre, this sees the writer/director trying something a little different and more sedated: playing down the sci-fi vibes so they’re almost non-existent making The Time Traveller one of Nico’s only straight dramas. No crazy stunts or exploitation excess, the film is a rather heavy-handed Christ allegory (it makes no bones about this!) that while not wholly successful (and somewhat silly seen in this day and age) is oddly and effectively watchable thanks to the gentle pace, striking locations, and a cast of likeable characters you hope find meaning in their lives again.
It’s all a bit John Carpenter’s Starman (which Nico acknowledges in his interview that accompanies this film) but much lower key and not as dramatically satisfying. Still, it ambles along on the main casts charm (Barbeau, Dullea, and Licht are all great), the spectacular Mykonos location (captured via stunning cinematography), and is a gentle, though sometimes silly, little flick from a director who would often go full tilt.
Sky High
Directed by: Nico Mastorakis
Written by: Nico Mastorakis, Fred Perry, Robert Gilliam
Starring: Danial Hirsch, Clayton Norcross, Frank Schultz, Lauren Taylor
Year: 1985
Country: US
Running time: 109mins
BBFC Classification: 15
Now this is more like the Nico we know and love: sun, skin and, err, speedos!
Following up the relative restraint of The Time Traveller, Sky High is a mish-mash of spy film, teen sex comedy, Greek travelogue, and (sort of) action flick with Nico on full throw-everything-in-but-the-kitchen-sink mode.
Three all American dudes (Hirsch, Norcross, and Schultz) are university exchange students in Greece on the look out for sun, sex and booze when they inadvertently get hold of some type of new experimental drug that various agencies and gangs desperately want their hands on. Throw in three beauties for the trio to hook up with and the group run around the Greek islands seeing sights, bedding one another, and getting into all kinds of chases as they try to stay one step ahead of their pursuers.
Incredibly silly but watchable caper that rarely makes any sense but keeps the pace moving thanks to all the island-hopping, good-looking cast, and even a smattering of action. A film that pretty much epitomises the 80s, Nico throws in everything his budget can afford (multiple locations, a couple of music video sequences (!), a chase featuring a helicopter) to fill the film with wackiness and adventure, and while it’s way too long at just under two hours there is just enough action, skin, and absurdness to make it an entertaining time passer.
Terminal Exposure
Directed by: Nico Mastorakis
Written by: Nico Mastorakis
Starring: Mark Henessy, Scott King, Hope Marie Carlton, John Vernon
Year: 1987
Country: US
Running time: 105mins
BBFC Classification: 15
After the relative success of Sky High, Nico segued into one of his bigger hits (and most known films) action/horror hybrid The Zero Boys followed swiftly by The Wind (both already re-released as individual titles and reviewed elsewhere on this site!) before heading back for more sexy screwball shenanigans with Terminal Exposure.
Amping up the T&A and bevvies of beauties seen in Sky High and arguably downplaying the action/spy element (though there are still a couple of cool looking stunts), Terminal Exposure is Nico at his most silly. Now set up Stateside, Terminal Exposure sees two would be photographers/wannabe detectives capture a murder on film while photographing the derriere’s of Venice Beach’s beautiful female contingent. Yep, they capture a murder while taking pictures of butts! The two then decide to solve the murder, hoping for some kind of reward, and very silly mischief ensues.
Basically, a whodunit via a teen sex comedy (or as someone elsewhere put it: a bit like De Palma’s Blow Out but with more butts!), Terminal Exposure is a definite case of you could make (and seemingly get away with!) anything in the 80s and they sure don’t make them like this anymore. PC it ain’t but if you can get past the somewhat troubling beginning of our two “heroes” photographing beach loving women’s derrieres unawares, then Terminal Exposure is some silly, late night, entertaining fluff.
It’s basically Nico lite, seemingly framing a sexy caper in around Venice Beach: which does make for a cool location. Not to be taken seriously, it’s a long way from the likes of Island of Death and The Zero Boys but certainly shows Nico was never pigeonholed by genre and former Playmate (and Andy Sidaris stalwart!) Hope Marie Carlton provides for an easy on the eye co-lead and pretty much acts everyone else off screen. Also look out for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo from a very young Danny Trejo!
Glitch!
Directed by: Nico Mastorakis
Written by: Nico Mastorakis
Starring: Will Egan, Steve Donmyer, Julia Nickson, Julia Nickson, Ji-Tu Cumbuka
Year: 1988
Country: US
Running time: 88mins
BBFC Classification: 15
After Terminal Exposure, Nico delivered one of his (stunt happy) best in Nightmare at Noon (again, reviewed elsewhere on this site!) before returning to silly and sexy territory with Glitch! Much like Terminal Exposure it sees two slightly douchy dudes (Egan and Donmyer) tricking a bunch of scantily clad women into believing they’re movie producers holding auditions at the massive mansion they planned to rob but have now covertly shacked up in.
What unfolds is a lot of dated 80s style tomfoolery as a bevy of beauties fall for the would be thieves charade. There’s some sort of sub-plot involving some gangster types showing up to ruin everyone’s fun to collect money owed by the real movie producer who owns the mansion but it matters not as it’s really just an excuse for everyone to hang out in very little clothing and party.
Much if not all the running time is set in and around a massive Californian mansion that Nico pretty much admits (in his accompanying interview on the film) they got to use a location (and live in while filming!) and come up with a movie around it. It’s silly and sometimes sexy though somewhat tamer in its comedy and nudity compared to the similar styled Terminal Exposure. Unfortunately, its grates after a while (with some very dated and cringy “comedy”) the set up and single location not quite stretching to a feature length of interest though, the lovely Juila Nickson (Rambo: First Blood Part II) is on hand to liven things up as an auditioning actress onto the two douchebags grift: albeit she’s unfortunately lumbered with the straight serious role.
Ninja Academy
Directed by: Nico Mastorakis
Written by: Jonathan D. Gift
Starring: Will Egan, Gerald Okamura, Kelly Randall, Michael David
Year: 1989
Country: US
Running time: 92mins
BBFC Classification: 15
Things get even sillier (but a whole lot more fun) in Nico’s obvious cash in on the Police Academy films (which were big business at the time of release). Yet, instead of a school for bumbling would be bobbies, this one is for nitwit wannabe ninjas.
Chiba (Gerald Okamura) and his lovely daughter Gayle (Kelly Randall) run a training school for ninjas out in (for budgetary reasons!) the California countryside. A ragtag group of dudes, babes and eccentrics are all for one convolutedly reason or another drafted in to train to become the deadliest warriors. What ensues is a barrage of silly and not gonna lie, funny skits as the motely crew bumble their way through ninja training. There’s a sub-plot about a rival ninja school out to get revenge on Chiba and his trainees (which leads to the inevitable showdown between the two) but the film is really just an excuse for wacky fights and silly ninja shenanigans.
Ninja films were very popular at the time and seemingly Nico figured he could cash in on both this genre and the Police Academy films doubling his chance of success. Tamer and goofier than his earlier comedies with the sex/nudity toned down (though there is still some nudity on show!), Ninja Academy is pure silly Nico Mastorakis. Not to be taken seriously at all it’s a spoof from a bygone era where all you needed was a few easy on the eye characters and lots of silly situations to string a movie together. Pretty much taking place all in one location, Ninja Academy does show its budget but gets by with a game cast sending themselves and ninja movies up in glorious style.
The more highbrow out there might not get a kick out of it but for silly ninja busting fun, this is guaranteed to raise a giggle or two for those looking for a laid-back laugh. Okamura makes for a good tough ninja master and for old school action films fans out there watch out for early cameos from such stalwarts as Art Camancho, James Lew and if you can spot him, a young Mark Dacascos.
The Naked Truth
Directed by: Nico Mastorakis
Written by: Nico Mastorakis, Kirk Ellis
Starring: Robert Caso, Kevin Schon, Courtney Gibbs, Brian Thompson, M. Emmet Walsh
Year: 1992
Country: US
Running time: 92mins
BBFC Classification: 15
After a pretty good run throughout the 80s both in Greece and US producing and directing his very own style of films, Nico’s golden run pretty much came to an end with the bawdy comedy The Naked Truth. While he did go on to make one more feature film some years the later (2002’s .com for Murder), The Naked Truth would be the last real Nico Mastorakis flick and unfortunately was a bit of damp squib to go out on.
Originally envisioned as a sequel to Glitch! it’s instead Nico’s homage to Some Like it Hot but with a boatload more nudity and low brow humour. Two typically annoying young dudes, both called Frank (!), accidentally obtain some incriminating evidence against a local mafia boss and, like anyone would do in a similar situation, dress in drag and hide out in a beauty pageant pretending to be the make up girls. Much “hilarity” ensues as the two try to keep the charade up, befriend a beautiful FBI agent who is undercover as a participating model, and said mafia boss they all trying to hide from/incriminate in a bust inexplicably falls for one of the Franks dressed as a lady!
Yep, that’s really what happens and there is no doubt this is a Nico film. However, the zany fun of the likes of Sky High and Ninja Academy is missing here, the director perhaps running out of steam after making several very similar films. The humour often doesn’t land and can be very cringy in this day and age and despite what appears to be a bigger budget (the film is pretty slick) and a host of then famous cameos from film and TV stars (Zsa Zsa Gabor, Shannon Tweed, Erick Estrada, Lou Ferrigno, Norman Fell, and err, Little Richard!) the flick just runs out of steam. Even with the copious amounts on scantily clad beauties the flick never ignites to be the zany madcap satire it wants to be.
Still, Courtney Gibbs is great as the undercover FBI agent, the great M. Emmett Walsh turns ups looking frequently bemused, and Nico regular Brian Thompson (Hired to Kill, In the Cold of the Night) is good value as the dim-witted muscle-bound henchman of the mafia boss.
An eclectic set from an eclectic filmmaker, this may feature lesser-known films from Nico Mastorakis and certainly focuses on his comedy films rather than his more well-known action/horror flicks. The films may be a bit hit and miss but still great to see them collected in one set and given a new restored lease of life. A must for Nico fans (I know there is more of us out there!) and highly recommended for those who like offbeat cinema from a time when anything goes, and humour often hit below the belt.
Arrow will release Nico Mastorakis Collection on Limited Edition Blu-ray 29th July 2024.
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations – all the film’s look fantastic and highlight some of the great cinematography featured (despite the low budget of the films), certainly those show in and around Greece: they’ve probably never looked better.
• Original stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Nico’s Self Interviews, six brand new interviews with writer, director and producer Nico Mastorakis where he looks back on how the films in this collection came to be, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and cast and crew interviews – great 20 -30 minutes interviews with the man himself talking enthusiastically about the making of these films. He talks fondly of his cast and crews and gives great insight (and anecdotes!) into the making of each film, the challenges they had getting them off the ground, and how they came to be. While in his twilight years, Nico is still a very likable and passionate man, seemingly happy that his films are getting a much-deserved dust off, spruce up, and new lease of life via Blu Ray. Always good to hear from the man himself and he also provides much behind-the-scenes info and footage, which is great stuff.
• Dan Hirsch: A Revealing Self-Interview, a brand-new interview with the star of Sky High, Dan Hirsch, looking back on his role in the film – short but great interview with the very amiable Hirsh who talks about his time making Sky High: his first ever movie role! He enthusiastically reminisces about how much fun to make the film was, how the cast and crew became good friends, that it was as much a traveling odyssey as it was making a film. He has nothing but praise for Nico, and Hirsh would go on to be a key production assistant on several of Nico’s future films as well as take the lead in perhaps one of his best films, The Zero Boys. Great guy and could have listened to his anecdotes about working with Nico for much longer!
• Gerald Okamura, Ninja Academy’s “Chiba” Remembers, a brand new interview with Gerald Okamura, looking back on his role as Chiba in Ninja Academy, and his career as an actor and martial artist – fun little interview with the now 83 year old Okamura who doesn’t look much older, save for his beard now being grey! He recounts his experiences making Ninja Academy (with some funny and rather odd anecdotes about the production!) and his career in martial arts cinema.
• Original trailers for each film – cool retro trailers that amp up the fun and action packed elements (not to mention the very 80s-ness!) of all the films.
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the career Nico Mastorakis by critic Barry Forshaw – not available at the time of review.
• Limited Edition Deluxe packaging with reversible sleeves featuring newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch – not available at the time of review.
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