Rent Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020)

Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (aka Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpions Revenge) review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

It might appease Mortal Kombat fans to learn that Scorpion’s Revenge plays like the wish-fulfillment version of the 1995 live-action Mortal Kombat movie. If you liked the premise but wished that the film were heavier on the gore and darkness the game boasted, this movie will undoubtedly satiate that blood lust. It plays like a fan’s reworked version of the film that focuses more on Scorpion (who only had a cameo), tosses in some more characters, and firmly forces in the gruesome nature fit for an R rating. Surprisingly, this formula works.

It helps that this direct-to-video movie follows a complete arc for the warrior Scorpion. His origins are revealed, where he was the member of a Japanese clan who was destroyed by the ice-wielding power of Sub-Zero. After witnessing his wife and child murdered, Scorpion’s death sends him to a hell he struggles to escape from. The conspiring Quan Chi makes a deal with him, granting Scorpion the powers of hell to compete in the realm tournament of Mortal Kombat and steal an artifact. If Scorpion accepts, he’ll have the chance to get bloody revenge on Sub-Zero, who will be in attendance. Also in attendance at the event are members of the Earth realm, including the wise Raiden, the devoted Liu Kang, the bitter Sonya, the bold Jax, and the cocky Johnny Cage. Amid the tournament, all of them learn of deception that is rigging it, choosing to join forces amid the brutal battles.

There are many familiar story beats from the first movie, but with a different feel. The tournament is once more held on a mysterious island, complete with fights against the multi-armed Goro and the cyborg Kano. These fights, however, proceed much more violently. Goro’s duel with Jax ends with the soldier’s arms being ripped out of their sockets, paving the way for the character’s mechanical arms. Kano’s fight involves Sonya getting in a swift kick to his technicals, followed by a more crushing blow to the neck. Every display of combat is brimming with plenty of broken bones, gushing blood, and torn-out spines.

There’s a lot of love for the games; almost too much. In adhering to the game mechanics, there are several scenes where the camera zooms into the internals of the current victim being brutalized. Great detail is placed in watching muscles snap and bones shattered. Seeing this once or twice is neat, but it grows repetitive as the fights continue, making the gore almost ubiquitous by the final fight. There are also some lackluster Easter egg bits of dialogue forced into the script, where quotes from the games come off more cornball than fun.

The film's best aspect is the characters' intelligence and development. There are plenty of twists in the mix, where the powerful players take advantage of manipulations and attempt elaborate assassinations. It was rather clever watching Quan Chi and Shang Tsung attempt to outsmart each other with poisons and assassins. There’s also just enough charm to warrant the solid comradery of the Earth realm players, where Johnny’s suave nature causes friction with Sonya, and Liu Kang makes a devoted yet aggressive pupil to Raiden.

Scorpion’s Revenge comes together remarkably well for a Mortal Kombat animated movie that could have been little more than a mindless blood fest. There’s a decent amount of depth, twists, and charm to make this film based on a video game feel like more than just a series of references for the fans. Even though the violence became a wee bit monotonous as the story continued, there are some surprises that go beyond which parts of the body can be severed. It’s certainly an upgrade from 1995’s Mortal Kombat movie and a far superior picture compared to the sloppy 2021 Mortal Kombat movie. In the same way that Warner Bros makes DC Comics work better through animation, Mortal Kombat movies like this signal that the franchise was destined for this medium.