In order to boost their engagement, many film podcasts will schedule episodes relevant to the current discourse in the cinema landscape. Reel Deep Dive is hesitant to chase after trending topics, but Ryan just happened to record a discussion about this direct-to-DVD Mortal Kombat animated film. So, he's scheduling it a week before a new Mortal Kombat film is debuting in theaters and HBO Max. Maybe we'll get a few extra clicks out of it...
Regardless, Ryan's had a bee in his bonnet about this movie ever since he stumbled across it. Cheryl has been dragged in to help him exorcise it from his mind through close reading, nostalgic reminiscence, and some light-hearted ribbing. Talking points for this one include the appeal of campy self-awareness, the lumpiness of Sonya Blade's quasi-feminist backstory, how the film improves Johnny Cage as a character, and how Scorpion served as a young Ryan's introduction to the concept of an antihero.
