When it first debuted in arcades in 1992, Mortal Kombat distinguished itself from other fighting games of the time with its unflinchingly bloody battles and gory finishing moves. But between the no-holds barred fights, there was a fascinating backstory behind many of the franchise's colorful characters, with the undead ninja Scorpion quickly becoming the de facto face of the franchise. It is this distinction that puts the character in the spotlight for the franchise's latest animated film Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, a cinematic love letter to the fighting game series that, like its source material, doesn't pull any punches in its ultra-violent content while providing a freewheeling adaptation of the original game.
Directed by Ethan Spaulding from a screenplay written by Jeremy Adams, the animated film opens with the tragic backstory of the ninja master that would become the hellish warrior Scorpion. Following this brutal prologue, the movie introduces all the other classic characters as they assemble for the eponymous martia-arts tournament between Earthrealm and Outworld for the fate of both dimensions. As the participants engage each other in escalating showdowns, Scorpion plots his own vengeance from beyond the grave against those he deems responsible for the loss of his family.
One of the first, most striking things about this film is how gruesomely violent its action sequences are. Taking visual cues straight from the games itself, this is no Saturday morning cartoon intended for audiences of all ages. Rather, it's a deliriously gory thrill ride that teeters on the edge of being unsavory in its content, sometimes relying on that shock value for dramatic effect. And with its breakneck pacing, it isn't long before the movie moves on to the next fight scene. This film knows its audience is here for the hard-hitting action the franchise is known for, and it certainly delivers to well-choreographed, blood-soaked effect.
Fortunately, the characters are not lost in the shuffle between all the fights. There's just enough background provided for the various combatants and the nature of the tournament they are participating in. And while the overarching story belongs to Jordan Rodrigues' Scorpion, Joel McHale's Johnny Cage and Jennifer Carpenter's Sonya Blade both get their own solid character arcs and time in the spotlight along with many faces familiar to longtime fans of the franchise.
It's clear that Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge is a true labor of love for the creative team, with plenty of Easter eggs and nods to the entire history of the iconic video-game franchise nestled throughout the movie. The story perhaps develops the cast's backstories and characterizations more than they have ever been before, and blending Scorpion's tragic backstory with his badass reputation proves he's much more than a walking catchphrase.
Certainly not for the faint of heart, the animated film delivers the unrestrained action and no-frills sense of urgency that has endeared the franchise to millions of fans worldwide. Hopefully, it sets up new stories to adapt the subsequent installments in the long-running video-game series -- Scorpion's Revenge proves there is plenty of life and bloody surprises left in the venerable title.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge stars Joel McHale as Johnny Cage, Jennifer Carpenter as Sonya Blade, Jordan Rodrigues as Scorpion & Hanzo Hasashi, Steve Blum as Sub-Zero, Artt Butler as Shang Tsung, Darin De Paul as Quan Chi, Robin Atkin Downes as Kano, David B. Mitchell as Raiden, Ike Amadi as Jax Briggs, Kevin Michael Richardson as Goro, and Grey Griffin as Kitana & Satoshi Hasashi. The film is set to be released on Digital on April 14, and Blu-ray and DVD on April 28.