KILINK IN ISTANBUL 1966 (SINISTER CINEMA)

WHAT A WILD RIDE THIS IS!!!!!!!

This is what I consider to be the cornerstone of all Turkish cinema. Released on Christmas Day in 1967 this has long been sought by me and finally I have had the chance to view it.

Kilink arrives in Istanbul in a coffin and wrapped like a mummy. His henchmen unwrap him and he goes to work on trying to get his hands on a destructive formula he once collaborated on with another scientist. Kilink kills the scientist but still does not have the formula.

The now dead scientists son, Orhan (Irfan Atasoy) mourns at his fathers grave when suddenly a magical spirit appears and gives him the power to change into a superhero named...well...Superhero. Time after time the bad guys attempt to kidnap the daughters of the scientist but always get defeated by Superhero.

Finally Kilink gets his hands on the women and tortures them on a stretching rack and with whips, but never seems to get the formula. Kilink himself proves to be something of an immortal as he cannot be shot or killed, but he does meet an equal match in Superhero. All Orhan has to do to turn into Superhero is utter the word Shazam. Sound familiar?

There is more action, adventure and gunplay in the brief 70 minute running time than you find in ANY US film of the same nature. This is obviously a rip off the the 40's serials and it is played out the same way. This is much more fun than anything Hollyweird has produced over the last two decades, especially with all their superhero crap.

Kilink is a very odd looking bad guy who wears a skeleton costume and is extremely ruthless. The movie ends with Kilink escaping with the oldest daughter of the professor so he can obviously torture her more and get the secret of the formula. This film set up the long running Kilink series. As usual there are plenty of beautiful women gracing the screen which is always a big plus.

I hope some day to get the other two films. The print quality is not very good as this film has NEVER been taken care of, but it is great to see this wonderful slice of Turkish pop culture. Subtitled in English. I cannot see why any film fan would not want to see this bizarre outing. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.