screenshot-2021.03.18-05_24_34.jpg

According to producer Todd Garner, Mortal Kombat has one of the most brutal hand-to-hand fight sequences ever seen on film. The forthcoming adaptation of the popular video franchise is now less than a month away, as it releases in theaters and on HBO Max the same day, April 16th. Previous live-action adaptations of Mortal Kombat include 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and 1995’s Mortal Kombat, both of which were derided by critics and fans for their cheesiness and inadequate plot development.

The upcoming Mortal Kombat movie desperately looks to correct course for the franchise and restore video game adaptations' reputation. So far, so good as the first trailer for Mortal Kombat featured a plethora of R-rated fatalities and a modern spin on the story. Those who have seen the first 13 minutes of the film are praising it for setting up an environment where stakes are high, and the fight sequences are “personal or visceral.” But considering director Simon McQuoid’s comments on the film’s fight scenes, the opening prologue seems to be merely a taste of the brutality that will ensue.

During a roundtable discussion ahead of the film’s heavily anticipated release next month, producer Todd Garner says Mortal Kombat includes “one of the most brutal fights” he has “ever seen on film.” Though he could not reveal who is fighting during the scene, he described it as the “most violent” and “insane” hand-to-hand fight. Garner also added, “It's not who you would expect to have the fight.” Read his full comments below:

Every single fight in this movie has its own personality. And it's true to not only the game, but it's true to the character. I can't tell you who's fighting, but there's one of the most brutal fights I've ever seen on film. And it's the most violent hand-to-hand, insane fight, and it's not who you would expect to have the fight. There's also a beautiful operatic fight; there's swordsmanship. And then you have the moment you've seen in the trailer, where Sub-Zero freezes Scorpion's blood and stabs him with it. So, every fight has its own personality.
screenshot-2021.03.18-05_26_45.jpg

McQuoid previously bragged about Mortal Kombat having the best fight scenes ever on film, so he and Garner are pleased with the film’s action sequences' quality. The trailer provided a sneak peek of the intense action and gruesome fatalities the classic video games are known for, as well as a look at the film’s cast of iconic characters, including Sonya Blade, Scorpion, Kano, Sub-Zero, Raiden, and newcomer Cole Young (Lewis Tan) as the film's main protagonist.

While it remains to be seen if Garner and McQuoid’s comments are genuine praise or marketing hype, Mortal Kombat's R-rating, as opposed to the two previous movies’ PG-13 rating, at least seem to indicate the film adaptation will embrace the brutality the video games are built on. Fans will know for sure when the latest movie iteration of Mortal Kombat premieres on HBO Max and in theaters on April 16th.

Mortal Kombat (2021)
Release Date: Apr 16, 2021