I’ve recently started watching the popular Netflix series Cobra Kai, which for those not already in the know, shows how the main characters from the Karate Kid film franchise are faring in modern times. Great concept! I like it. But how about giving this treatment to another iconic 80s movie featuring fierce rivalries in love, sport and unpaid newspaper subscription fees?

Let’s give this treatment to the 1985 black comedy film Better Off Dead!

Think about it! After underdog Lane Meyer (John Cusack) bests Roy Stalin (Aaron Dozier) in skiing the formidable K12 peak, what happens to these two guys? Let’s think about that! I have some ideas!

Lane becomes a highly successful owner of a chain of sporting goods stores specializing in ski and winter sports equipment. Roy, on the other hand, is just a worker bee in a small independent ski shop teetering on the brink of closure and waxes/repairs skis. He’s still bitter about losing the K12 race to Lane all of those years ago. He meets a boy who is a lot like a young Lane Meyer, who is bullied by the other kids, but loves skiing. He takes the boy under his wing and teaches him to ski the K12 – on one ski. Emboldened by this achievement, Roy opens a ski instruction school where he teaches his students how to win – at any cost.

Lane gets wind of this and also opens his own ski school, and the two men again become bitter rivals.

I haven’t figured out what happens to the other characters yet. Does Lane’s brother Badger become a suave ladies’ man? Does Lane stay with French exchange student Monique? What about nerdy neighbor Ricky and his overbearing mother? Does Lane’s mom ever learn to cook? Does Lane’s buddy Charles DeMar (pictured above) get his life together? Does the paper boy ever get his two dollars? Does Pig Burgers stay in business?

In the past as in the present day, everybody wants to take out Beth!