0
0
What could the Big Bad Film Fest do for the hat trick as the action cinema lover festival was highlighting its third year of bringing severe ass kicking to the masses. From action icon Scott Adkins showcasing a martial arts master class in Prisoner of War to The Martial Club members dishing out old school, jaw dropping action design in Gladiator Underground, this year was a robust success and it’s always an honor to watch future releases before anyone else. How can the event end the last day of film presentation? Well, by unleashing the Chilean Dragon that’s how.
With that, it’s only fitting that we have Adkins’ action brother in arms Marko Zaror step up as well as the international extreme martial arts icon makes his English language debut as a leading man in director Brandon Slagle’s full throttle love story Affinity. Over the last few decades, Zaror has headlined a host of sick action offerings from his native homeland of Chille and has also co-starred in several western projects like Undisputed 3: Redemption, John Wick: Chapter 4 and most recently Diablo reuniting him with Adkins. For Affinity, Zaror is front and center and highlighting why he’s one of the best of the best in the business of kicking some serious ass on screen. Zaror is having a phenomenal year and Affinity is the icing on the cake.
Affinity is a true passion project for Zaror and a blood dripping love letter to his legions of fans who already knew that he deserved to be in the same class as Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Norris as a true pioneer in adrenalin laced entertainment. Zaror has cut his teeth in the industry for years and now it is finally paying dividends and hopefully Zaror will headline many more western action films in the future. Slagle, serving as the action maestro behind the camera has quietly amassed the rightfully earned reputation as the go to guy for helming indie action and with Affinity, he understands the assignment once again showcasing Zaror magnificently in the film’s several brutal set pieces.
It also bodes well that fellow action star and filmmaker Louis Mandylor is able to get in on the action and delivers one of his best action scenes to date. Co-star Brooke Ence is the ultimate Femme Fatale backing up Zaror with some serious firepower and action auteur Brahim Chab (Monkey Man) shines as the volatile henchman Krieger who dishes out serious punishment in several empty-handed combat scenes before culminating in his climatic showdown with Zaror where both protagonist and antagonist defy gravity and illuminate the screen with jaw dropping caliber moves.
Speaking of Ence, the versatile actress demonstrates a tough as nails demeanor stepping up to cover Zaror’s six. She commands the screen when the action hits and deploys a one of the boys personae that just screams for someone to give her an action movie to star in. I would gladly watch her bring more pain in a future title.
Can we all just come to the fact that Louis Mandylor is the best kept secret in the film industry. Mandylor is such a talent in front of and behind the camera that it’s basically ridiculous just how good he is. Versatile is an understatement when talking about his charisma, action and acting skills and filmmaking abilities and more companies need to give this man the reigns when making an indie actioner on the cheap. As Joe, Mandylor brings a grounded, funny and sincere performance as one of Bruno’s only real family and their chemistry together sells their relationship. Mandylor has been willing and dealing behind the lens for a while now so it’s awesome to see him come out to play once again.
As Athena, Jane Mirro brings a reserved and quite approach to the woman who is much more than she seems. She is Beauty to Bruno’s beast and normally I’m not a big fan of the romantic aspects of movies these days but here it enhances the plot and drives the story.
Story wise, Affinity concerns Zaror who plays Bruno, an ex-Navy SEAL who is suffering from PTSD after losing his brother in action on a mission that goes awry. Bruno is living in seclusion in Thailand drinking away his pain with ally Joe (Mandylor) and Fitch (Ence) as his only saving graces and compadres.
It all changes one faithful night when a mysterious woman washes up on Bruno’s waterside home to which the former soldier immediately takes under his wing to nurse back to health. Something isn’t right about the woman who Bruno learns that her name is Athena and Joe is quick to point out to Bruno to take extreme caution.
Once Athena recovers, she and Bruno eventually fall in love and just when things are looking good, we find out that it’s too good to be true. Unfortunately for Bruno, Athena is harboring a dark secret as she has escaped from some very bad people and with that, she brings trouble to Bruno’s doorstep who must dust off his signature skill set to save Athena and survive from a dangerous and ruthless foe with Joe and Fitch his only means of backup.
Affinity stems from an idea by Zaror and late indie action filmmaker Daniel Zirilli which does make this all a little bittersweet. It’s clear from the onset that Zaror wanted to make this one something special and with that he picked one of the best filmmakers in the business to helm all the mayhem in Brandon Slagle. Best known for such standout indie action as Breakout, Arena Wars, The Flood and Battle for Saipan, Slagle is the quintessential go to guy if you want to make something special out of limited resources. Slagle knows what the fans want because he is one himself and that makes for the best kind of director as the shots and editing in the film’s fight sequence compliment the talent doing all the damage in front of the cameras.
From the start, Affinity makes no mistake as to what kind of movie it is as we are treated to a rather gnarly first-person shooter sequence and from there, Zaror and Slagle deliver ample amounts of exhilarating action design courtesy of Zaror himself as he also served as action director. Zaror’s talents are clearly not wasted here, and each brutal and expertly choreographed fight scene builds from the last culminating in a sensational climax where Zaror embarks into full on one man killing machine mode.
I won’t spoil the twist to the story, but I did like how the film implements a sci-fi touch utilizing a Frankensten style plot to the mix. It’s a radical concept to say the least and definitely a different way to go as this isn’t your ordinary love story. Viewers shouldn’t see it coming and it throws the film into uncharted waters while at the same time relishing in the usual bravado and heroics of it all.
Filmed in Thailand, the film and its cinematography look gorgeous with the city and landscape becoming its own character as it enhances the look of the movie. The sweeping shots of that part of the world is the perfect complement to the action and drama, and it is essentially the yin to the yang of the ugliness that the story is dealing with. Add in an old school pulverizing synth score that radiates very cool vibes enhancing the visuals.
Action is king and flawless action design is a god and here Zaror, Slagle and company fill the tight and lean running time with as much blunt force trauma and extreme trickery that they can. Zaror is savage poetry in motion and every time he unleashes his skills; it is nothing short of a brutal aesthetic that is unmatched. There’s plenty of Gun Fu ferocity, bladed weaponry CQB altercations and general bad assery to be had at every turn. Zaror is the star, but he allows Mandylor and Ence ample opportunity to exterminate with extreme prejudice and Mandylor gets to execute one of his best fight scenes to date encompassing some tier one knife fighting skills. For the finale though, it’s pure, prime Zaror who reminds us why he is front and center just in case any of us forgot. How dare we.
To sum everything up into a nice little package, Marko Zaror’s English language debut as a leading man is a full throttle love story with severe martial arts punishment and carnage! Combining bladed weaponry, a little Gun Fu and a whole lotta ass kicking bravado, Zaror delivers in blood-soaked spades as director Brandon Slagle reaffirms that he is the go-to elite indie action filmmaker.
A pulverizing synth score and beautiful cinematography heighten this insane action extravaganza and thus proves without a shadow of a doubt that Zaror is the quintessential action icon! Oh, and action star and filmmaker Louis Mandylor slices his way through a savagely choreographed fight sequence showcasing some sick skills as a bonus.
Add this one to your must-see action film arsenal!!!
VERDICT: 4 Out of 5 Stars
Affinity is Marko Zaror at his savage best! An adrenaline pumping, full throttle love story with savage martial arts action design!
[…] Big Bad Film Fest 2025 Review: AFFINITY- Marko Zaror’s English Language Headlining Debut is a … […]