“Well, that was a rough start. Let’s keep going.” This is the line spoken by one of the many legends who make an appearance in the passion project that is Surge of Power: Where There’s Smoke. Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura from the first iteration of the sci-fi classic Star Trek) shares a line that encapsulates the attitude with which a project like this should be considered.
Mario DeAngelis, Jeff Rector, and Vincent J. Roth are the trifecta of filmmakers who have taken it upon themselves to make Surge of Power: Where There’s Smoke, the latest installment in the Surge of Power franchise. Surge of Power is a passion project with previous entries that each compile a set of former actors who have decided to come back to the genre in a flippant, low-indie endeavor that won’t exactly go against the sci-fi classics. However, love is a broad word, and sometimes its expression is far from beautiful. Sometimes, it’s ridiculously funny, and the proof is Surge of Power: Where There’s Smoke.
In the film, the superhero known as Surge teams up with The Smoke to find the mysterious Falling Apple. In reality, Falling Apple used to be Chaoi Appuru until her father was viciously killed. Now she’s on a rampage to steal mysterious crystals of Celinedionium (exactly, you just read that). Does it all have to do with the nefarious plans of The Council?
How this is developed into a film is an exercise of independent comedy that won’t necessarily appeal to everyone, especially considering how “sacred” the superhero genre is today, with fan circles being a bit extreme about it. But the story by the creative trio is still fundamentally about grown men in tights trying to save the world, regardless of how ridiculous they look. Surge is a great example of this execution, a gay superhero who’s confident enough to make constant jokes about himself.
Yes, Surge of Power: Where There’s Smoke is supposed to look cheap sometimes because it’s everything but hard sci-fi. You’re not supposed to analyze its cheesy effects. You’re actually supposed to laugh at the jokes, and there are plenty of those. Surge is at the lead, but he isn’t the only one providing the jokes and punchlines; the way he interacts with The Smoke is a representation of the world’s most improbable duo, and The Smoke has his moments of comedy gold as well. Surge of Power: Where There’s Smoke is a mix between a midnight movie and a festival darling, and I strongly believe those are the ways these films should be seen. With an audience that understands its value and isn’t there to scrutinize but laugh at its simple comedy.
There are plenty of cameos in this one, enough to host a viewing party where you can spot who’s who and where you’ve seen everyone before: Robert Picardo (The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager), Bruce Vilanch (comedian and writer), Shannon Farnon (Wonder Woman from the Super Friends cartoon), Michael Gray (Billy Batson from Shazam!), Joseph Culp (Doctor Doom from 1996’s Fantastic Four), Sam J. Jones (1980’s Flash Gordon, Ted), Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager), Eric Moran (former wrestler), and Kevin Caliber Thomsen (Supergirl‘s TV show).
Film critic. Lover of all things horror. Member of the OFCS. RT Approved Critic.
