Kidnappings, shootouts, gun-brandishing women and a rogue hero all wrapped up in one convoluted plot: What more could an action-movie fan ask for?

How about a dash of satire?

Lethal Force, a 70-minute parody of B action movies, has all of this -- plus an onslaught of ketchup-like blood effects and a power drill scene that would make Tim "The Tool-Man" Allen cringe.

"[Lethal Force] is about a guy whose son gets kidnapped, wife is murdered and is forced to betray his best friend," says Kristen Anchor, coordinator of Baltimore's Creative Alliance Movie Makers, which is presenting the film Friday at the Creative Alliance in Highlandtown. "It's a complicated action/adventure setup."

Lethal Force has won a number of awards around the country, including the jury prize for best feature at Baltimore's annual MicoCineFest.

Directed by Alvin Ecarma, Lethal Force has been hailed as "proudly cheesy," by the Washington Post and was listed on the Ain't It Cool News Top 10 indie movies list of 2001.

"[The film] pulls from a lot of Jackie Chan movies and my own personal spin," Ecarma says. "I knew the movie was going to be funny. ... [But] you don't have to be an action movie fan to understand the satire."

Lethal Force will be shown after 30 minutes of shorts starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5, $3 for CAmm members. The Creative Alliance is located at 413 South Conkling St. Call 410-276-1651 or visit www.divergentthinking.net for details.