Superhero Films (2020): Subgenres of Terror

By Steve Hutchison

Included in this book are 50 reviews of horror and horror-adjacent superhero films.

Superhero films are about characters with abilities beyond those of ordinary people, often dedicated to protecting the innocent and typically using their powers to make the world a better place.

Each book in the Subgenres of Terror 2020 collection contains a ranked thematic watchlist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steve Hutchison
• Release date: Mar 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781778871832

Steve Hutchison

Artist, developer and entrepreneur in film, video games and communications Steve Hutchison co-founded Shade.ca Art and Code in 1999, then Terror.ca and its French equivalent Terreur.ca in 2000. With his background as an artist and integrator, Steve worked on such games as Capcom's Street Fighter, PopCap's Bejeweled, Tetris, Bandai/Namco's Pac-Man and Mattel's Skip-Bo & Phase 10 as a localization manager, 2-D artist and usability expert. Having acquired skills in gamification, he invented a unique horror movie review system that is filterable, searchable and sortable by moods, genres, subgenres and antagonists. Horror movie fans love it, and so do horror authors and filmmakers, as it is a great source of inspiration. In March 2013, Steve launched Tales of Terror, with the same goals in mind but with a much finer technology and a complex engine, something that wasn’t possible initially. He has since published countless horror-themed books.

Book preview

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Tales of Terror’s

Subgenres of Terror 2020

Superhero Films

INTRODUCTION

Included in this book are 50 reviews of horror and horror-adjacent superhero films.

Superhero films are about characters with abilities beyond those of ordinary people, often dedicated to protecting the innocent and typically using their powers to make the world a better place.

Each book in the Subgenres of Terror 2020 collection contains a ranked thematic watchlist.

#50

Hectic Knife

2016

3/8

A vigilante protects the city from brutes, gangsters and a new super villain.

Hectic Knife is a low to no budget mostly black and white film distributed by Troma. It is extremely gory and equally funny. Get drunk or stoned and you’re going to have a good time. Know what you are getting into, though; this isn’t one for intellectuals. It’s about a knife-wielding vigilante with a ridiculous wig who gets stabbed more than he stabs.

The dialogue is rollicking. Writers Greg DeLiso and Peter Litvin aren’t afraid of dialogue. The characters talk even when they’re fighting. They often describe their own actions as they are doing them. The script isn’t exactly polished, and the exposition is nonexistent. This is no masterpiece but it’s one hell of a comedy. That being said, inside jokes and references to pop culture fall flat.

One thing’s for sure; the cast and crew had a blast on set. A lot of Hectic Knife seems improvised. The narrative is flawed by humor so absurd you’ll giggle all the way through, ironically. The film is highly experimental. It will split the audience. You need to be in the right mood. There’s a lot better out there, but if you like Troma’s catalog, you might want to check this one out.

#49

The Toxic Avenger Part II

1989

3/8

A mutated revenant on a quest to find his lost father visits Japan.

As established late in Part 1, and as prominently exploited in this sequel, Toxie is more a superhero and not the bad guy we saw in him. The backstory’s been taken care of, and it’s now time for real-time fast-paced wars with hoards of villains of all types: midgets, transgenders and other minorities that raise taboos and debate. Expect gore, racial jokes and burlesque.

All this is done in good taste, and it’s probably where the franchise succeeds best. The people behind this have no shame making the marginal evil, so as long as they’re the center of the plot. Toxic Avenger is true to himself and carries a lobbyist’s torch. He is more than ever defined here as an oppressed victim, not that any of it must be taken seriously. Still, the commentary is thick.

This is a new chapter in Toxic’s life and it should, in theory, trigger the start of many adventures. This is at least what the format and marketing suggest. This production is made for pure entertainment. It’s a cheap gimmick but with people creative and hard-work enough behind it to fill the runtime and still grab the audience. Prepare to be shocked and laugh about your