In an era where streaming services dominate the entertainment landscape, Tubi stands out by offering a diverse and expansive library of films at no cost to its users. With its eclectic mix of genres and eras, Tubi presents a unique opportunity for movie enthusiasts to explore hidden gems and revisit classics. Clearly curated by true cinephiles, their catalogue promises not just entertainment, but a broadened cinematic horizon. Whether you’re a fan of indie flicks, blockbuster hits, or cult classics, Tubi’s extensive library ensures that there’s always something new and exciting to watch. Join us as we delve into the adventure of watching a movie a week on Tubi, where hopefully you find your new favorite movie or at least an interesting gem worth recommending.
Deadly Lessons (2006)
A mysterious college professor, Simon Conjurer guides a group of dysfunctionals on a journey of self-discovery, as they become the focus of a murder investigation when Simon is framed by his rival, Dr. Crazx, a Pulitzer prize-winning psychiatrist with an unsavory vendetta and a knack for twisted mind games. Of all the insane vanity projects made by egotistical directors whose reach far exceeded their grasp, this one is easily the most competent. It’s not good by any stretch of the imagination but unlike Birdemic or The Room, it is watchable. The performances aren’t unbearably bad, the direction isn’t incompetent, the sound isn’t terrible, the script isn’t that bad, and the effects, while laughable, aren’t the worst thing in the world.
This will never hit the same levels of infamy like Samurai Cop or Miami Connection but it does share a lot of the same WTF DNA as those films. It might not be as terrible as those films on a purely technical level, it is just as baffling on a decision-making one. The film feels as if someone created an algorithm to create the perfect Lifetime movie and then handed that script to a delusional loon with a messiah complex. It’s absolutely fucking bizarre and I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.
Mikey (1992)
Killer kid movies are a dime a dozen but few have as high a body count as Mikey. Within the first ten minutes, the titular Mikey (Brian Bonsall) kills his entire foster family and the kills just keep coming from there. It’s one of the only films I’ve seen within this sub-genre that didn’t feel heavily inspired by The Bad Seed. This isn’t a slow build-up to crazy. He doesn’t gaslight anyone or play mind games like your typical cat-and-mouse thriller. If he has a problem with you, you won’t know it till he says an adorably bad pun relating to death, and by that point, it’s too late. It’s not a great movie and honestly, it is a bit slow in places but it nails the landing, which is rare for these types of movies.
Escape from the Bronx (1983)
Picking up literal seconds after the first film ended, Escape from the Bronx is about a rag-tag group of people who must fight extermination squads amid their ruined city. When I first watched this movie, I actually had to turn it off twenty minutes in because I had no idea it was a sequel. You would think the lack of exposition or setup would’ve tipped me off but I just assumed it was eliminating the pointless backstory and was just hitting the ground running. Because it really hits the ground running. It wastes no time doing what the fuck it sets out to do, which is to create a space for non-stop action. The character is on the run, bad guys are after him and he must kill them or die. That’s it. That’s all there is to the plot and honestly, that’s all I want out of an Italian knockoff. Watch the first if you want the crazy, watch this one if you want the action.
Crime Zone (1989)
Crime Zone is a not-terrible little dystopian flick produced by Roger Corman’s New Concorde and directed by future Anaconda director Luis Llosa. The movie stars Sherilyn Fenn, David Carradine, and some guy you’ve never heard of as the male lead. Fenn and no name rebel against the totalitarian government they live under by starting a verboten relationship and robbing banks. Carradine plays a shady double agent who may or may not be setting Fenn and no-name up for a fall.
Crime Zone is cheaply made and, for the most part, poorly acted. But it’s well-lit and shot for a movie this cheap, and it manages to do a good bit of world-building on a non-existent budget. It’s fun and surprisingly thoughtful for a Corman flick. And because it shares footage with Future Kick, I consider the two films to exist in the same cinematic universe. Which is totally a bonus in my book.
American Dragons (1998)
When I think of Tubi, I think of movies like Escape from the Bronx and Hard Ticket to Hawaii. I think of sleaze and trash. And there’s plenty of it to go around, but there’s also plenty of movies that are more middle of the road. Forgotten, mid-budget, 90s crime thrillers starring this or that guy from this or that action movie from the 80s. Many of these movies aren’t bad at all. American Dragons is one such movie.
It’s basically a carbon copy of Red Heat without the strength of Schwarzenegger or Belushi to carry the movie beyond its cliches. But what American Dragons lacks in panache, it makes up for in sincerity. Michael Biehn isn’t quite strong enough of a lead to carry the movie, and Park Joong Hoon is no Belushi, but together the two manage to create a compelling pair of buddy cops that are just entertaining enough to hold your attention for 90 minutes. American Dragons is no Red Heat or Rush Hour, but it’s fun enough. And it’s a 90s crime thriller you’ve never heard of that isn’t dog shit. If that’s not a compelling enough sales pitch for you, I don’t know what to tell you.
These are our Tubi Movies of the Week. Have you seen any of them? Did you watch them on Tubi? Sound off in the comments!
