Q & A with “Not Coming to a Theater Near You!: 50 Great Direct-to-Video Action Flicks of the Early 2000s” author Bryan Kristopowitz
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Q: Why write about direct-to-video action movies, specifically direct-to-video action movies from the early 2000s?
A: First, I genuinely like direct-to-video action movies, and I like them unironically. That can be hard for people to grasp sometimes or understand because there’s an ongoing perception that a movie that goes direct-to-video is somehow a lesser movie and should be ignored or made fun of. That, to me, is just wrong. It isn’t as prevalent as it used to be, but it’s an attitude that still persists. I thought it would be worthwhile to write a book that not only celebrates the direct-to-video genre, but one that could also be used as a sort of primer or guide for people who might be interested in low-budget action flicks that they may see while scrolling through various streaming services but they don’t watch them because they don’t know if they’re worth watching. The second reason I wrote the book, and I wrote it specifically about direct-to-video action movies from the early 2000s, is that it’s a cinematic time period and genre that hasn’t been given its due or really explored in any significant way. It’s important to write about what you love, what you’re enthusiastic about. I love these movies.
Q: Are direct-to-video action movies misunderstood?
A: Oh, God, yes. Again, there’s still this ongoing perception that, because these movies didn’t get major theatrical distribution that they’re somehow lesser movies, or not “real” movies. That attitude has never made sense to me, and it makes even less sense now with so many movies of all genres debuting and getting made for various streaming services. I love the theatrical movie watching experience as much as any movie nerd, but not every movie is going to play on the big screen. A movie is a movie. And direct-to-video movies are real movies.
Q: What makes for a great direct-to-video action movie?
A: As I write in my book, there are basically four things that make for a great direct-to-video action movie. Those four things are: the movie is interesting, it isn’t boring, the action is well done, and there’s an obvious commitment to the movie from the star. That last one is very important when dealing with a DTV action movie that is specifically star driven. If it’s obvious that a Steven Seagal or a Jean-Claude Van Damme isn’t into the movie they’re appearing in and it just seems like they’re going through the motions/they did the movie for a paycheck and nothing else, that will show in the movie and make it harder to watch. I haven’t seen every single direct-to-video action movie ever made, but I’ve seen enough of them to know how a star’s performance can affect the movie they’re appearing in. You want your star into the movie they’re acting in.
Q: Does a direct-to-video action movie need a major action star to be good or even great?
A: No, having a major star isn’t necessary to for a great direct-to-video action movie to be great. Having a major star will certainly help bring awareness to the movie, as major stars have fan bases and fan bases are always wondering what their favorite stars are up to. But there are plenty of great direct-to-video action movies featuring unknown actors and performers and maybe even actors or performers you sort of know and recognize but you’re surprised to see them in an action movie. As long as that “unknown actor” is committed to the part their playing, odds are good that the movie will succeed. That’s been my experience.
Q: Do you have a favorite direct-to-video action movie or star from the early 2000s?
A: I’ve written about fifty of them in my book so, yes, I have several favorite direct-to-video action movies. Anything I’ve given a high grade, a 10 out of 10 or close to that, could probably be considered among my absolute favorites. As for a favorite star, maybe Dolph Lundgren? Maybe Steven Seagal? I would probably have a different answer if you asked me tomorrow.
Q: What’s the best way to watch these movies?
A: Any way you can. If you can find them on home video, DVD or Blu-ray, I would encourage you to check them out that way, especially if you’re a fan of physical media (I love physical media). That’s how I saw everything that I write about in the book. These movies still pop up on cable and over-the-air TV, so that’s another way to watch them. And these movies are all over the various streaming services, the free/ad supported ones and the ones that you pay for. That’s probably the way most people now will find them and watch them. And that’s fine, that’s cool. Again, watch them any way you can.
Q: How did you get into writing about these movies?
A: I’ve been writing about pop culture and movies and reviewing movies on the internets, specifically at 411mania, since 2005, and I’ve more or less focused on low-budget genre movies, B-movies, and indie cinema since around 2008, when I started writing The Gratuitous B-Movie Column. As I said earlier, I love low-budget genre movies, B-movies, and indie cinema, and that world was something that I knew I wanted to write about. Before that, I was writing short stories and other stuff and sending them out into the world and not really making much headway. I decided to look into writing on the internets, to see what that was all about. I liked movies, writing about them and reviewing them seemed like something worth doing, and so I basically just looked around to see if there was anywhere that would be willing to let me do that. I saw a post on 411mania about the site looking for new writers for their various zones (411mania is very well known in the pro wrestling world), I sent the site a sample review I did of a Michael Madsen movie from the year 2000 called “Sacrifice,” and they hired me. I’ve been writing for 411mania ever since.
Q: What do you hope readers get out of “Not Coming to a Theater Near You!”?
A: I hope readers have fun with it, laugh at the jokes and whatnot, and I hope that readers gain a greater appreciation for direct-to-video action movies. It would also be cool if readers checked out the movies that appear in the book. If any of that happened as a result of reading “Not Coming to e Theater Near You!,” that would be great. It really would be.
Q. Anything else you want people to know?
A. Yes. “B-movie” is not a slur, and the world would be better off if everyone watched more B-movies. It just would be.