It’s been nearly twenty-eight years since director Paul Kyriazi has stepped behind the camera. Best known for delivering action films like his debut feature Death Machines and his last Omega Cop. In between his last and most recent work, he’s kept busy in other forms of entertainment (if you would like to know what, you can read both parts of my interview with him from last year here and here). For someone who has been away from the game for so long, I was always curious to see what he would deliver to audiences now, how it would differ from his B-action flicks.
That time is finally upon us and Kyriazi’s latest film, Forbidden Power, is incredibly hard to classify, but it does what all good movies should do, keeps you thinking about it long after it’s over.
George (Lincoln Bevers) is attending a convention with his annoying co-worker Miles (Eric Stayberg) where they have a table set up for their job. Things are a bit slow until Veronica (Nasanin Nuri) shows up, a mysterious and gorgeous woman. They carry on with some idle chit-chat until she offers George her number. He’s quick to take it but it is almost too good to be true.
Later that evening, he gives her a call and she jumps at the chance to meet him in his room. Things move quickly and they share an intimate encounter. When George wakes up the next morning, she’s long gone but something is different about him. He finds himself getting smarter, seeing better, and growing stronger. He has super powers which were transmitted to him sexually by a woman who has disappeared. Things might be great in his life, but questions remain and he will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind his transformation.
Forbidden Power is a micro-budgeted science fiction thriller that focuses primarily on story and character, which is a great move. The movie itself is rather unpredictable and it’s difficult to tell which direction it will go in. The idea of transferring powers through sexual intercourse is quite intriguing and was used to great effect. I was under the impression there was an abundance of sex and nudity in the film, but in actuality Forbidden Power was quite modest and refreshing to see it wasn’t overkill.
Lincoln Bevers was a solid lead, he has a likable charisma, and a true screen presence. The arc his character goes through was well plotted out and Kyriazi was sure to surround him with great talent. Harry Mok plays Chang, a martial arts instructor George goes to for assistance. Mok has only appeared in a handful of films (including Kyriazi’s Ninja Busters), but he has a ferocious intensity and the surface has barely been scratched on what I think he’s capable of. Other cast stand outs are Charles Leggett and Hannah Janssen. Nasanin Nuri is a real stunner. When she walks into frame, she commands your attention and gets it every time.
There are a couple of neatly choreographed action scenes but felt maybe there could have been more. Really, though, the amount of action in Forbidden Power fit this particular story, and that is what’s most important. The world being created leaves room for so much story to tell and various directions it could go should a sequel be on the horizon, the possibilities would be endless. This wasn’t the direction I would have predicted Paul Kyriazi to go in when returning to film, however it’s an interesting and welcome one.
Budget was an obvious issue, and the lack of funds could have contributed to keeping the film from reaching greatness, but what we are left with is a solid science fiction thriller with a twist. I wouldn’t pass on Forbidden Power, which is currently available to rent or buy on Amazon.
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