American Mobster: Miami Shakedown is a gritty, low-budget crime drama that plunges viewers into the underbelly of Miami’s small-time mob scene. Directed by Marcus Dreeke and written by Nino Cimino, the film follows Nick Romano, a young Italian-American caught between loyalty, love, and survival. With his partner Carlo, Nick navigates hustling, street-level crime, and a tense relationship with his girlfriend Vanessa, all while trying to stay in the good graces of a powerful local crime boss.
Read MoreSamurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance (2015)
Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance, directed by Gregory Hatanaka, attempts to recapture the unintentional charm of its cult predecessor. While it brings back familiar faces like Mathew Karedas as Joe Marshall and Mark Frazer as Frank Washington, the film struggles to match the original's unique appeal. The plot centers on Joe Marshall, now in self-imposed exile, who is drawn back into action when his former partner Frank Washington seeks his help to dismantle a powerful criminal syndicate.
Read MoreAmor Emanuelle (2023)
Amor Emanuelle, directed by Nicole D’Angelo and Gregory Hatanaka, is the third entry in Cinema Epoch’s Emanuelle series, and it’s a film that defies conventional storytelling in ways both maddening and oddly compelling. The story centers on Emmy, a young escort whose life takes an unexpected turn when she is approached by CQ, a mysterious and magnetic woman offering her a position in an elite business that promises wealth and intrigue. At first, the opportunity seems seductive, but Emmy quickly realizes that CQ’s motives are cryptic, and her new world is far stranger than anything she has encountered.
Read MoreThe DeMarco Crew (2024)
Gregory Hatanaka’s The DeMarco Crew is another entry in his long-running line of low-budget, crime-fueled thrillers—this time diving headfirst into heist territory with a touch of personal drama. At just over an hour, it’s brisk, loud, and packed with the kind of scrappy energy that defines much of Hatanaka’s work. The film follows Dean DeMarco, a master thief with a crew that’s as loyal as they are reckless.
Read MoreNight Cops (2023)
When it comes to low-budget action flicks, few directors embrace the chaos quite like Gregory Hatanaka. With Night Cops, he delivers a brisk, no-nonsense cop thriller that feels like a throwback to the VHS days of tough talk, gunfire, and grit — for better and for worse. At just over an hour, Night Cops doesn’t waste time.
Read MoreCrack (2023)
Gregory Hatanaka’s Crack is a wild ride through the gritty world of crime, and while it’s far from perfect, it has a strange charm that makes it entertaining in its own way. The story is simple but effective: a young drug dealer, Byron, stands at a crossroads, forced to decide whether to fully embrace a life of crime or try to escape before it’s too late. The plot doesn’t overcomplicate things, which works in its favor—sometimes a tight, focused story is exactly what a crime drama needs.
Read MoreSinful (2020)
Rich Mallery’s Sinful is a tense, if flawed, crime-thriller that explores the dark aftermath of a violent act and the psychological unraveling of a young couple. Newlyweds Remy and Salem find their honeymoon abruptly cut short after committing a gruesome crime, forcing them to hide out in a mysterious house as an unsettling darkness creeps in. At just 1 hour and 15 minutes, the film packs a lot into a tight runtime, but not always with the polish or clarity one might hope for.
Read MoreBikini Hackers (2023)
Scott Hillman’s Bikini Hackers is an audacious, if uneven, entry into his repertoire of low-budget, camp-leaning cinema. Clocking in at a brisk 67 minutes, the film attempts to merge comedy, crime capers, and a playful take on lesbian romance, centering on a group of women who plot to redistribute wealth by taking down a major corporation—all while clad in bikinis. The premise is delightfully ridiculous, and for about half the runtime, the film delivers exactly the sort of chaotic charm Hillman fans might hope for.
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