Cinematic Releases: Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel (2017) - Reviewed



Today, you can’t go to the movies without seeing at least one superhero movie. The fantasy and the fiction, but more importantly, the message of equality is delivered in a package that will appeal to a large audience. If it sounds like I’m talking about the next Marvel movie or the next DC movie, think again. I’m actually talking about Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel from writer - directors Antonio Lexerot and Vincent J. Roth. 

While the story itself focuses on the superhero Surge of Power/Gavin Lucas (Vincent J. Roth), Roth and Lexerot tell the story with a fourth wall breaking frame as the Comic Store Shopper (Joshua Carlson) looks for a new adventure in his own life. The cashier (Antonio Lexerot) tells him of the fight against oppression in the second issue of “Surge of Power” featuring Surge’s battle to stop Metal Masher/Hector Harris (John Venturini)’s nefarious plans to destroy the Big City. 

Lexerot, Roth and John Venturini cram as many comic book references as they can, but they also peppered their story with references to 1980’s pop culture, the film is full of a variety stars including Linda Blair, Gil Gerard, Eric Roberts, Nichelle Nichols, Bruce Vilanch, Frank Marino. Even Lou Ferrigno makes a cameo appearance. 

Just as Superman, Magneto or Captain America have real life identities, so do our Surge and Metal Masher. Lexerot and Roth use the humor and the super hero lexicon to convey a sense of sexual identity. Sean Rogers plays Todd, a love interest for Surge. Just like Lois Lane and Clark Kent, the relationship is forged, but never really satisfied. Whether people wear a cape or a dress, this is how they identify themselves to the world, and the movie makes it clear that this is okay, that it isn’t a choice and that the world needs to be more understanding of what equality means. 

This is where the story struggles just a bit. There are so many references and surprises in the film that some of the themes overlap. The story does achieve what it set out to do, even if the epilogue felt rushed. Just make sure to watch the film all the way through – there is a post credit sequence which I found extremely hilarious. 



The dialog is so witty that I missed some of the jokes on the first pass. The cast had a blast; there was never an uncomfortable moment in the film and that’s why this film succeeds. In the end, “we made a difference where we could,” is probably one of the most powerful anthems I’ve heard in a film about comic book heroes.

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-Ben Cahlamer