Introduction
If you’re nostalgic for THE KARATE KID, SHOWDOWN (1993) should be on your watchlist — it’s currently available on Amazon Prime. This low-budget martial arts drama leans into familiar themes but delivers enough heart to remain enjoyable.
Plot Overview
The film follows Ken Marx (Kenn Scott), a teenager who relocates with his mother and enrolls in a new high school. He quickly attracts Julie’s (Christine Taylor) attention, which provokes her boyfriend Tom (Ken McLeod), a violent student trained by the ruthless sensei Lee (Patrick Kilpatrick).
Parallel to Ken’s story is Billy Grant (Billy Blanks), a former police officer now working as a school janitor. Years earlier, Billy accidentally killed Lee’s brother while breaking up a chaotic party during a patrol with his partner Spinelli (Mike Genovese). Wracked with guilt, Billy has been unable to return to law enforcement.
Training and Confrontation
When Tom assaults Ken for flirting with Julie, Billy intervenes. He reluctantly starts teaching Ken self-defense and basic martial arts, using unconventional, sometimes humbling drills — including chores like cleaning toilets — to build ...