The Good, The Bad, and The Sequel

This week, The Good, The Bad, and The Sequel takes on American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt, the third entry in the cult-favorite action franchise — and this one was a Doug hall pass pick, so you know it’s going to get wild.
With a new lead, over-the-top villains, and peak late-’80s action energy, American Ninja 3 leans all the way into ridiculous fun, questionable logic, and nonstop martial arts mayhem.
We dig into everything, including:
🥷 The “ninja breakdown” — how the film uses (and abuses) ninja rules, weapons, and logic
💥 The shift away from Michael Dudikoff and how the new lead stacks up
🧪 The wild science plot involving mind control, experiments, and total chaos
🎬 Classic ’80s action tropes turned up to 11
😆 Moments that make zero sense but somehow make the movie even more entertaining
🔥 Fight scenes, explosions, and the anything-goes energy of direct-to-video sequels
🎭 The villains, their motivations (or lack of), and peak overacting moments
🎥 Why this movie is the perfect “turn your brain off and enjoy” sequel
This is exactly the kind of sequel we love — messy, ridiculous, and somehow still incredibly fun to talk about.
🎥 Watch the full, unedited video review:
👉 sequelsonly.com/americanninja3
🎬 Next Up: Weekend at Bernie’s II 🍹💀
We’re re-releasing our episode on the sequel that brought Bernie back — featuring the late, great Steve James.
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💬 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with friends, enemies, neighbors, exes… and anyone who thinks they could survive ninja training.

This week, The Good, The Bad, and The Sequel dives into Saw VI, one of the most socially charged and surprisingly deep entries in the franchise.
Blending brutal traps with commentary on the healthcare system, Saw VI takes the series in a bold direction while continuing the legacy of Jigsaw and his disciples.
We dig into everything, including:
🪚 Why Saw VI stands out as one of the smartest and most focused sequels in the franchise
💉 The healthcare/insurance storyline and how it adds real-world stakes to the horror
🎯 The traps — creative, brutal, and some of the most memorable in the series
🧠 Hoffman vs. Jigsaw’s legacy and the shifting power dynamics
❤️ A deep dive into Jigsaw’s marriage and how it shapes his motivations and philosophy
🔥 The film’s pacing, tension, and why it feels more grounded than other entries
🎬 How this sequel builds on the mythology while still delivering classic Saw chaos
😬 The moral choices, impossible decisions, and why they hit harder in this one
Like the best sequels, Saw VI doesn’t just raise the stakes — it adds layers, meaning, and some seriously uncomfortable questions.
🎥 Watch the full, unedited video review:
👉 sequelsonly.com/saw6
🎬 Next Up: American Ninja 3 🥷🔥
No interview this time — Doug used a hall pass to pick this one! It’s free on Tubi, so get ready for some classic martial arts sequel madness.
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💬 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with friends, enemies, neighbors, exes… and anyone who always thinks they’d beat the trap.

This week, The Good, The Bad, and The Sequel sits down with actress Karen Cliche, whose career spans cult TV favorites, horror hits, and action-packed roles — including her unforgettable turn in Saw VI.Karen shares an incredible journey from growing up in a military family to stepping into the worlds of modeling and acting, carving out a unique path in the entertainment industry along the way.We get into everything, including:🎖️ Growing up as a military kid and how that shaped her perspective, work ethic, and accent📸 Her transition from modeling to acting and breaking into the industry📺 The cult TV shows she was part of and the lasting fan love they still receive🔪 Her role in Saw VI and being part of one of horror’s most iconic franchises🦃 Working on Thanksgiving and collaborating with horror mastermind Eli Roth🎬 Behind-the-scenes stories from film sets, genre work, and evolving as an actress💬 Her approach to teaching self-tapes and improvKaren brings honesty, great stories, and a deep appreciation for the craft — making this a must-listen for horror fans, TV lovers, and anyone interested in the journey behind the screen.
Karen's IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0166566/
Karen's Coaching: https://www.karenclichecoaching.com/🎬 Next Up: Saw VI 🪚We’re diving into one of the most intense and socially charged entries in the franchise — breaking down traps, twists, and everything in between.📲 Follow us everywhere: @sequelsonly🌐 Visit the site: sequelsonly.com💬 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with friends, enemies, neighbors, exes… and anyone who thinks they could survive a Jigsaw trap.

This week, The Good, The Bad, and The Sequel dives into Detective Knight: Redemption, the second entry in the Bruce Willis-led action trilogy that blends Christmas chaos, prison breaks, and a surprisingly wild storyline.
Part action thriller, part holiday crime movie, and fully packed with over-the-top moments, Detective Knight: Redemption swings big with its twists, characters, and nonstop “wait… what?” moments.
We dig into everything, including:
🚔 Bruce Willis returning as Detective James Knight and anchoring the film with classic tough-guy energy
🎄 The strange but fun holiday setting that mixes Christmas spirit with criminal mayhem
🔥 The film’s surprisingly epic villain in Ricky Conlin
💥 Action sequences that feel both gritty and chaotic in true direct-to-video sequel fashion
🕵️‍♂️ The layers of conspiracies, criminals, and shifting alliances throughout the movie
🎭 Characters making big decisions that sometimes make perfect sense… and sometimes absolutely don’t
🎬 How this film fits into the larger Detective Knight trilogy and the era of Bruce Willis action films
🎥 The behind-the-scenes stories we learned from director Edward Drake about making the film and working in the modern indie action world
Like many sequels we cover, Detective Knight: Redemption delivers a mix of big swings, strange choices, and moments that make sequel fans pause, laugh, and rewind.
🎥 Watch the full, unedited video review:
👉 sequelsonly.com/dkr
🎬 Next Up: Saw VI 🪚
We’re diving into one of the most socially charged entries in the franchise — and we’re joined by actress Karen Cliche, who shares behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the film. Karen talked about her journey from modeling to acting to being in some epic projects. New Eli Roth film Ice Cream Man comes out this year, and Karen is in it (It's her 4th Eli Roth film)
📲 Follow us everywhere: @sequelsonly
🌐 Visit the site: sequelsonly.com
💬 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with friends, enemies, neighbors, exes… and anyone who thinks Christmas action movies should involve way more explosions.

This week we’re joined by writer/director Edward Drake to talk about the making of Detective Knight: Redemption and his journey from Australia to directing feature films in Hollywood.
Edward shares what it was like stepping behind the camera for an action franchise entry, navigating indie filmmaking realities, and collaborating with major talent — all while carving out his own voice as a storyteller.
We get into everything, including:
🎬 Directing Detective Knight: Redemption and building tension within a contained action thriller
🎥 His path from Australia to directing music videos and breaking into feature filmmaking
💥 Transitioning from indie horror roots to larger-scale action projects
🎞️ Working with Bruce Willis across multiple films and what he learned from the experience
📝 Wearing both the writer and director hat — balancing story with production realities
🎬 His new documentary “The Ascent” is premiering at SXSW in March 2026
👉 SXSW Profile: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2026/contributors/2246390
🌍 The difference between narrative features and documentary storytelling
🎯 Advice for aspiring filmmakers trying to make the leap from shorts/music videos to features
Edward gives an honest look at modern indie filmmaking — the hustle, the pivots, and the lessons learned along the way.

🎬 Learn more about Edward Drake:
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4864836/
SXSW (“The Ascent”): https://schedule.sxsw.com/2026/contributors/2246390
📲 Follow us everywhere: @sequelsonly
🌐 More episodes, interviews & sequel reviews: sequelsonly.com
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And come back next week as we continue our sequel coverage with more action, more deep dives, and more behind-the-scenes stories.