Mortal Kombat Legacy

Mortal Kombat has several films, but none have captured the brutal spirt of the gaming series as Mortal Kombat Legacy achieved. With the 2021 film, there was a lot left on the table. And we want to take this moment to honor the fine work from this relatively unknown series that is well worth the time for fans of the games and any action movies.

In this review, we’ll take you through each short film comprising Season 1. All of which is available on Youtube at this time. Let’s discuss the history while presenting each amazing short film.

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Brutal Action Dream Come True

Mortal Kombat 2021 began development around 2012. When Kevin Tancharoen was working on the film until he departed the project in 2013. But before he left, he left a strong imprint on Mortal Kombat. Starting with Mortal Kombat Rebirth. The film quickly garnered a cult fanbase following its release. With Kevin’s gritty, edgy yet believable tales. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s truly an amazing piece of work that makes the series feel fresh even to this day!

Rebirth was made a shoestring budget, and even to Kevin’s surprise, he managed to get several great stars to sign onto the pet project. Acquiring talent such as: Michael Jai White, Jeri Ryan, and Ian Anthony Dale. With its dark tale focusing on Jax and Scorpion. As they discuss a dangerous suspect related to the grisly end of Johnny Cage. For fans of the production, it’s easy to see why there was so much interest in it.

Following the success of Rebirth, Kevin was soon approached by members officially with rights to the Mortal Kombat franchise. Impressed with his work, he was soon tasked with developing more work based on his ideas. Which became known as Mortal Kombat Legacy. Although Season 1 had a focus on many characters, there are particular episodes that quickly outshined anything else to ever come from the franchise. Especially when it came to the rivalry between well-known characters SubZero and Scoprion.

For those that have seen 2021’s rendition of Mortal Kombat, you’ll easily recognize the influence Legacy had on the feature film. From Hanzo Hasashi’s quest for revenge following the execution of his clan at the hands of Bi-Han. To the hard-hitting fight choreography, the amount of love Kevin poured into the project is absolutely timeless for fans of the style. If there’s any portion of Mortal Kombat Legacy that you should watch, these two episodes are the best of the best!

And if Kevin’s take on the franchise wasn’t enough already, he took some interesting liberties with the narrative surrounding Raiden. The God of Lightning and protector of Earth realm.

While Raiden had been established as a God that cannot interfere in the contest of Mortal Kombat, Kevin’s take on the character focused on humanizing a God that has forgotten his gifts. With Raiden stumbling into one of the worst places for a God to claim his gifts: an asylum. Upon arrival, he’s placed with the other patients. Only to be pushed deeper and deeper into barbaric methods of the staff, due to the claims being made. What ensues is an entertaining subversion of the character into the perils of living amongst mankind, as he makes his best efforts to escape and help resolve the task of protecting Earthrealm.

If that wasn’t enough, you have the dramatic twist on Johnny Cage. The professional martial artist ridiculed by Hollywood at large. As he brings his brilliant ideas and action to the silver screen. However, no matter how hard he executes his craft, the Producers not only stifle him. But steal his work in an effort to cash in his ideas.

Although not as action heavy as the other of the episodes, Kevin crafts a great story of drama and how people can manipulate people who possess great ideas. Which is something anyone that’s worked in an office can relate to, as they observe their ideas being stolen.

To finish out the strongest episodes of this great series, I present to you Cyrax and Sektor. An absolutely brilliant explanation behind how the characters came into being. Along with the groundwork behind the motives of the Lin Kuei. An ancient Chinese clan that are both reclusive and unrelenting. Subjecting their best fighters to fate similar to that of Robocop. As fighters sacrifice everything that makes them human in the quest for Lin Kuei dominance.

For the first time on film, we see Cryax and Sektor before their transformation. As they are made into the deadly weapons from the franchise. The level of simple yet effective storytelling with their characters is both visceral and intense.

If you’ve been watching the films contained on this page, you’re quickly realizing the potential behind Kevin’s vision for the film. Unfortunately, Season 2 of the show made some changes that took away from this. Such as changing actors, and a very different approach to the storytelling. Discarding much of its gritty nature in the process.

Thankfully, we’re left with the brilliant short film (Rebirth) and the first season. Which are truly amazing works of fiction. If you’re a fan of Mortal Kombat, you’ve come to the right place. As a fan of the franchise, I hope you enjoy Kevin’s vision of this great franchise. Perhaps one day we’ll see his unique vision come to light.

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Interested in seeing the entire first season of Mortal Kombat Legacy? Check it out below!