Earlier this year I reviewed probably the best known Turkish Superman film called The Return of Superman. It’s Thanksgiving week and there are bunch of these fun Turkish movies. I thought I would review a few this week, starting today through Saturday. That, or I have a backlog of these movies and this is a good excuse to watch them. Either way, I hope you enjoy them.

We are beginning with Kilink In Istanbul. Kilink is the Turkish knockoff version of the Italian comic book character called Killing. This is one of several of these. The best way I can think of to describe them is to compare them to the Fantomas serials from the 1910s. Except if Fantomas was a sadistic kidnapper, murderer, and all around really really nasty guy. I don’t recall Fantomas being this bad. And if Inspector Juve were Superman. No joke, this is Kilink (Yildirim Gencer) fighting Superman (Irfan Atasoy). Although, my subtitles just call him Superhero and other places you see him called the Flying Man, but come on. Just take a look at him.

At the beginning there is a somewhat confusing opening credit sequence. It’s clearly gonna play at the start of each of these to give a little introduction to the characters. Speaking of characters, here’s the other one.

And Kilink wears that skeleton thing for the entire movie. The question is what exactly is he in this. During the opening credits some people bring in a coffin, inject a mummy with something, it rises up, and underneath is Kilink. Was he hanging out in there? Was he hiding in there? Was he resurrected? It never really says. He just takes off the stuff, starts to plan a crime, then in seconds is off to do it.

That being to kill this doctor who he once knew. Presumedly, before he died. Apparently, he has some formula that Kilink needs to complete his ultimate weapon. Kilink thinks he has what he needs, but it turns out pieces are missing. Now we are introduced to the doctor’s son. This is an odd scene because it’s really random. The son is at a graveyard when all of a sudden this guy appears.

He tells the son he’s going to give him a list of powers. I’m not going to repeat it since it’s almost the exact same thing that Superman’s father says in The Return Of Superman to Superman. You can see it in that review. He tells him that all he needs to say is “Shazam” and he will become Superman. Then he gives him a warning that “only in great danger must be used and not in front of others.” Then POOF! He’s gone up in smoke just as quickly as he came.

In short order, Kilink’s henchmen show up and try to take Superman hostage. This is when we find out that this Superman is not like the Superman from The Return Of Superman. In that one, he basically stands there till the person tires themselves out, then Superman tosses them aside. This Superman dives right into the action. Sometimes quite literally.

Superman is already a thorn in Kilink’s side.

Did I mention this movie moves fast? This movie moves fast! Meanwhile, Kilink is going around reminding us he’s a bad guy. Like when he goes after this girl.

Then he proceeds to rape her?

I put the question mark there because I’m not really sure. It seems like that’s what is going to happen, but then she seems to be in to it. Also, there’s a girl later in the movie with the same color hair. I’m pretty sure she hooks up with him, but I’m not 100% positive. That part was a little difficult to follow. Let’s just say, Kilink has a history of being nasty to scantily clad women like the Wikipedia article on the character says. Not that he’s any better to the guys. And that a girl who looks like this is at his side for the remainder of this movie.

At this point, aside from henchmen around Kilink and some people around Superman, it basically becomes a series of showdowns between Kilink and Superman in one form or another. Here’s some highlights.

Superman Flys

I know this was shot in Turkey and the villain’s name does start with a ‘K’, but perhaps they should have only had two henchmen in this shot.

It certainly is an entertaining hour or so. It really does move fast. It’s like an old serial such as Fantomas, Les Vampires, Judex, or Spiders. It’s a series of action sequences that really don’t move the plot forward, but just set up Kilink and Superman as enemies, then it just ends.

Well, I have three more of these so I guess we’ll see what happens. In one of them Kilink fights Django. I wonder if that one will ripoff Spaghetti Western music in addition to the James Bond music it uses in this one. Ought to be interesting!

Note: There is a version of this on YouTube that appears to have 20 minutes more of runtime that aren’t even acknowledged as existing on IMDb. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have subtitles and my copy does come up and say “End Of Episode”. In these extra 20 minutes or so it appears Kilink gets his weapon working. Kilink also spends some quality time with his lady friend. A woman dances for Kilink. Then Superman shows up to beat people up. We get to see Kilink and Superman fight a bit. Honestly, you’re not missing much. It’s more of the same: Kilink being evil and Superman fighting people. It also ends out of nowhere. However, if you happen to speak Turkish, then by all means, seek out this clearly more complete version.