Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (HBO Max)

MORTAL KOMBAT LEGENDS: SNOW BLIND is the third in a line of direct-to-video animated movies based on the Mortal Kombat franchise. SNOW BLIND does not function as a sequel to the previous two movies but is a standalone tale, though a certain revelation does hint at its connection to the games. 

 In a post apocalyptic world clearly inspired by Mad Max and Avatar the Last Airbender, the remnants of humanity eke out a living in isolated communities but are constantly under threat from the Black Dragons.

 Led by the mysterious Kano, the Black Dragons are a clan of super powered criminals who blackmail, intimidate and terrorise all.  When they raid their latest community, a young fighter named Kenshi stands up to them. 

The reprisal attacks by the Dragons is brutal. Consumed by vengeance, Kenshi is easily tricked into tracking down the mystical Well of Souls and a sword within it called Sento which is rumored to grant untold power. Unfortunately it was a trick by the sorcerer Shang Tsung and Kenshi is betrayed and blinded while Shang leaves now empowered by the souls and hoping to usurp Kano’s rule.

Right from the onset I noticed a significant drop in the animation quality compared to previous Mortal Kombat animated movies. Character animation was choppier, scenes were less detailed, there were even scenes with sketch lines giving them an unfinished look that don’t seem like just a stylistic choice.

 It looked like the standard of animation you would see in a mid tier tv series rather than a movie. There are moments where the animation gets more fluid and at least these scenes feel like movie standard.  

So I wasn’t a fan of the animation but what I did like was the story. After Kenshi is blinded, he is rescued by an old farmer who is soon revealed to be the powerful ice ninja Sub-Zero. 

Meanwhile Shang Tsung’s coup failed and Kano has acquired greater power. What follows can be described as Star Wars meets Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

 Kenshi apprentices himself to the elderly Sub-Zero who teaches him to fight using his other senses instead of sight. Sub-Zero remains a recluse until a cruel twist of fate forces him to draw upon his ice powers once again and don his combat armor for one final showdown with Kano. 

 That final battle with Kenshi and Sub-Zero blasting their way deep into Black Dragon HQ, seeing the old ninja cut loose once again, and a surprise reappearance of a fan favourite character, it was certainly a thrill to watch despite the inferior animation.    

In the end, MORTAL KOMBAT LEGENDS: SNOW BLIND continues its predecessors’ trend of being a mixed bag for me. It is a much tighter and focused story than the previous SCORPION’s REVENGE and BATTLE OF THE REALMS, and you get a few surprise “named” actors in the cast such as Manny Jacinto (Star Wars: Acolyte) as Kenshi and David Wenham (Wonder Woman) as Kano, the latter especially becoming quite a compelling villain.

 Both Kenshi and Sub-Zero are well developed protagonists and some of the plots twists were genuinely shocking. I only wish that the animation was more impressive and the music was less generic. All in all, a decent “what if” story so if, like me, you’d like a Dark Knight Returns style mortal Kombat tale, and lots of gory violence, then check this one out.