Sex, Lies and Video Violence (Swedish:Sex, Lögner och Videovåld) is a Swedish film that was shot in the early 90's, but saw only a limited release in 2000. To this day it still has no official release, thanks to major copyright issues.
Mikael Beckman (played by real life porn producer Mikael Beckman) is a couch potato who loves violent action and horror movies. One day when watching Die Hard, one of the German terrorists jump out of the telly, and begins menacing Mikael with a shotgun. He runs out of ammo and flees, only for Mikael's sister to show up and start browbeating him because he missed some important meeting or another. And then a chestburster pops out of her chest.
Turns out, the characters from Mikael's favorite violent flicks, have all gained life and are now trying to invade our world. Well maybe. Mikael may just be utterly batshit insane too.
Sex, Lies and Video Violence is notable for several things. One is the unusual amount of star-studded cameos that a low budget Swedish splatter movie managed to muster. Mel Brooks shows up as a panicking bystander, as do Brandon Lee in what would prove to be his last performance on screen (technically) before his tragic death in 1994. In addition to big name actors, many fictional characters show up as well, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and RoboCop. The other one is the very impressive SFX, especially so for a low budget Swedish production.
Highly recommended viewing, although the only way you are ever going to be able to watch it, is through torrents. And we at TV tropes certainly wouldn't want to encourage such immoral and illicit behaviour.
Took its title from the 1989 Steven Soderbergh film, sex, lies, and videotape.
Tropes:
- Car Fu: The German terrorist tries to mow down Mikael with his Ford, but ends up taking out most of his mates instead.
- The Cameo: Mel Brooks, Brandon Lee, Micke "Svullo" Dubois (famous Swedish gross-out comedian) and Christina Lindberg.
- Chainsaw Good: One of the weapons given to Mikael by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He never uses it in film, though.
- Or Was It a Dream?: Mikael is actually just a nut in an insane asylum. But the very last scene shows the German terrorist approaching a guard outside the asylum, with lightning flashing from his hands, a lá the Highlander.
- Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting: Some seriously epic fight choreography in this film. It helps that Mikael Beckman is an actual martial artist, and that it was him who helped choreograph the scenes.
- Gun Fu: When Mikael buys his first gun, he tries to "do a cool dive, like in a John Woo movie." He ends up having his gun do the dive, while he himself stays stationary.
- I Know Mortal Kombat: Since this film was intended as a massive Take That! against Swedish film censorship, Mikael not only turns into a violent badass by watching movie violence, he's aware of it himself and views it as a good thing.
- Took a Level in Badass: Mikael spends the first quarter of the movie being punked by the German and his cohorts. Then he is granted a magical arsenal of weapons by a sentient Arnold Schwarzenegger in a magical Commando poster, and starts beating some ass.
