Obsession is a strong word to use - it’s also a word that I rarely like to use. Yet, if I’m honest, there are times in my life where I’ve found myself at this point. The empire of the Power Rangers was probably my first true obsession. I had all the action figures. Kimberly (for those of you who didn’t watch the show, she was the pink Power Ranger) was my first crush. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Movie was probably one of the first movies I remember seeing in the theaters. Its follow-up, Turbo, was one of the first films that I remember hating as a child. Even as an adult, it's still a terribly awful film to come back to.

My obsession was more than toys and movies. In my home, it was also my punishment. If I misbehaved in school, the Power Rangers weren’t allowed in our home for a few days at least. Then there was the time I tried to replicate one of Tommy’s (the Green and later White Ranger) moves on my cousin. He was pretty badly injured afterwards. That was pretty much the final straw. When I kicked my cousin, I had to face a life without the Power Rangers for an eternity. Okay, not really, but when you’re five, even a single month feels like an eternity.

Over the years, my obsessions have phased out and/or evolved into new things, though there is still a little piece that still has never completely left me. Perhaps I’m not alone. Following his resurrection of the Leprechaun in Leprechaun Returns, writer-director Steven Kostanski returns with his own love letter to family films of the 80s and the aforementioned Power Rangers. Psycho Goreman tells the story of an alien that is awakened from an imprisonment by a young girl (Nita-Josee Hanna) and her brother (Owen Myre). The newly-freed alien is now both a bodyguard for the children and trying to stop the annihilation of the human race. Psycho Goreman is an interesting movie to look at. In some parts, tonally it feels like a love letter to the 80s and some of that era’s darker thematic elements. There are parts where the film feels like a wholesome family film, and then some gore gets splashed on everything. It’s that kind of energy that keeps the film lively and unexpected.

Then on the other hand, we find a love letter to the Power Rangers. The costume designs, set designs, and so much of the film feels like a dark prequel to a Power Rangers villain you didn’t know you needed. The costume and production designs are among some of the highlights of this movie. In a digital age where you think that the age of practical is dead, Kostanski dares to challenge that normalcy through Goreman. Unlike in the Rangers films, these villains never look over the top but manage to approach their villainy through a grounded approach. I love how Kostanski managed to use these elements to further the comedic moments of the film. While there are definitely some that come in the guise of the kid actors, our round table of villains featured is equally quirky.

Perhaps one of the smartest things about Goreman is how the story approaches comedy. It’s never something that comes from areas you would expect. It always comes from the most unexpected of places. The first time we get our first taste of that comedic gold comes after an extremely bloody moment of darkness. It consistently does that throughout the film. It’s so refreshing to experience a movie that operates in both the darkest of the science fiction genre but yet can successfully balance comedy as well. Some of that comes from the interactions of “PG” and the kids. I should let you know that the alien’s nickname to the kids is PG. However, there are some truly wholesome moments within their interactions. The overarching arc of their story warms the heart and will constantly throw you for twists and turns.

Beyond our protagonists lies the family. Kostanski has a way of subtly deconstructing our sense of family. Usually in movies like Goreman, the parents have little to no screen time. If they do have screen time it's usually to fulfill cliches that harken back to the 1950s. That's not the case here. The mother, Susan (Alexis Kara Hancey), is a strong-willed, independent, and devoted mother who actually is given a decent amount of significance in the final act, whereas the father, Greg (Adam Brooks), is a lazy, "work from home" kind of character, who serves more to the film’s comic relief than as a forceful figure. Usually we don't see these types of families. The family unit which Kostanski creates feels very modern while also maintaining that nostalgic 80s homage.

We’ve seen a resurgence of love letters to the 80s in media that is beginning to embrace children at the center of their stories but aren’t necessarily dumbing down the content. A great example of this would be The Goonies. Here you have a group of teenagers who go on an unsupervised treasure hunt. Compare that to something like last year’s We Can Be Heroes, which virtually tells the same exact story but dumbs down its content for its intended audience. Goreman embraces the true spirit of the 80s by treating its child protagonists with actual respect. Myre and Hanna have great chemistry together. While it’s not in the traditional sense, I would dare even compare their relationship to the Belcher siblings from Bob’s Burgers, their chemistry feels like genuine siblings. I feel like, as a viewer, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a relationship like that portrayed with authenticity.

Overall, Psycho Goreman is a delightful love letter to the 80s and 90s alike. Its set design and structure reflects the era of leg warmers and seagull hair, while the costume design is a mirror image of the wild and crazy era of the 90s. Beyond the technical merit, Goreman boasts a heartfelt story with terrific acting, witty writing, and epic action. It might be too early to say it but Psycho Goreman might end up being one of the best movies of the year.

RORSHACH RATING:

Mental Health Moment: Ah, sibling rivalry. I’m the oldest over my younger sister. Truth be told, I probably wasn’t always the greatest brother I should have been. Within Psycho Goreman, you have the relationship between Mimi and her brother, Luke. Mimi is pretty much a bully throughout the majority of the film. There is clearly a loving relationship that underlines the rivalry. By the end of the film, viewers are welcomed to a complete circle of their relationship. Family is tough. It’s often a blind mental health factor we never really consider. How often do we consider the things we say to our family, or how we say it? Sometimes these are factors that lean into someone’s depression or suicidal tendencies. It can be the linchpin for why someone drinks or brings harm to themselves. 

Family are the people with whom we should feel free to talk freely. Sometimes those conversations are hard but they need to be had. It’s how we grow. Sometimes there are family situations that can’t be fixed by mere conversations. Every situation is different and I understand that. I would implore you to check out our resource library and connect with a therapist or counselor on how to improve the relationship between family and your mental health.

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Psycho Goreman is property of RLJE Films & Shudder. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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