Author Archives: Paul Bramhall

The Old Woman with the Knife (2025) Review

Director: Min Gyoo-dong Cast: Lee Hye-Young, Kim Sung-Cheol, Yeon Woo-Jin,  Kim Moo-Yul, Kim Kang-Woo, Shin Shi-A Running Time: 122 min.  By Paul Bramhall It’s been at least 5 minutes since a female assassin movie has hit either the big screen or a streaming service, so to ensure any withdrawal symptoms are avoided, in 2025 Korea stepped up to the table with The Old Woman with the Knife. The Korean film … Continue reading

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Hunt the Wicked (2024) Review

Director: Suiqiang Huo Cast: Xie Miao, Andy On, Andrew Lien, Shuang Hong, Sara Aliu, Jing Gu, Rui Han, Jane Wu Running Time: 102 min. By Paul Bramhall The challenge of getting noticed in the Chinese web movie world of giant creature features, ropey sci-fi flicks, and kung-fu throwbacks is a real one, however in the 2020’s Xia Miao has arguably risen to the top of the latter. Titles like Eye … Continue reading

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Holy Night: Demon Hunters (2025) Review

Director: Im Dae-Hee Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Seohyun, David Lee, Kyung Soo-Jin, Jung Ji-So, Cha Woo-jin, Lee Da-il Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s been almost 10 years since Ma Dong-seok’s breakthrough role in Train to Busan, and in that time he’s battled zombies, serial killers, crocodiles, gangsters, reptilian human hybrids, gangsters, heavenly guardians and even the yakuza. It was perhaps inevitable at some point then, that his anvil … Continue reading

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Havoc (2025) Review

Director: Gareth Evans Cast: Tom Hardy, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whitaker, Sunny Pang, Justin Cornwell, Luis Guzmán, Jessie Mei Li, Yeo Yann Yann, Quelin Sepulveda, Michelle Waterson, Gordon Alexander, John Cummins Running Time: 105 min. By Paul Bramhall Most of the audience for Havoc will consist of the average Netflix subscriber looking for their latest action fix, which isn’t a bad thing. For some of us though, it’s a much bigger … Continue reading

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Yadang: The Snitch (2025) Review

Director: Hwang Byeong-gug Cast: Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-joon, Chae Won-bin, Ryu Kyung-soo, Kim Geum-soon, Yu Seong-ju, Lim Sung-kyun, Cho Wan-ki, Kim Mi Suk Running Time: 122 min.  By Paul Bramhall In Korea the term Yadang refers to a professional snitch, a role that exists as an unofficial liaison between the junkies and the cops, forming a kind of symbiotic relationship that allows the latter to leverage the former … Continue reading

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Monkey Goes West, The (1966) Review

Director: Ho Meng Hua Cast: Yueh Hua, Ho Fan, Pang Pang, Tien Shun, Fan Mei Sheng, Kao Pao-Shu, Lan Wei-Lieh, Li Yin, Diana Chang Chung-Wen, Mao Wei Running Time: 112 min.  By Paul Bramhall Having gotten into Asian cinema in the late 1990’s, my first exposure to the phenomena of Journey to the West mania came in the 2010’s. For most of the decade it felt like a big screen … Continue reading

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Snake Prince, The (1976) Review

Director: Lo Chen Cast: Lin Chen Chi, Ti Lung, Helen Ko Ti-Hua, Fan Lei, Wong Yu, Ng Hong-Sang, Wong Ching-Ho, Ching Miao, Leung Seung-Wan, Lin Wei-Tu Running Time: 93 min.  By Paul Bramhall When it comes to 1970’s Shaw Brothers oddities there are a few titles that will likely spring to mind. Whether it be the studios riff on King Kong with The Mighty Peking Man, venturing into mutant territory … Continue reading

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Uninvited Guest of the Star Ferry, The (1984) Review

"The Uninvited Guest of the Star Ferry" Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Si-hyun Cast: Im Ja-ho, Seo Jong-ah, Hwang Jang Lee, Heo Yang-mi, Yoon Yang-ha, Baek Hwang-ki, Park Hui-jin, Lee Suk-koo, Baek Hwang-ki, Choe Hyeong-geun Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall When it comes to the niche world of Godfrey Ho’s infamous cut ‘n’ paste gweilo ninja movies, Ninja Terminator pretty much sits at the top of the pile. A cult oddity featuring Garfield phones, crab cookery gone wrong, … Continue reading

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Feeling triggered? Future pressings of the ‘Bruceploitation Collection Vol. 1’ have you covered!

Released in June last year, Severin have confirmed that future pressings of The Game of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection Vol. 1 will include a trigger warning advising viewer discretion at the beginning of the 1978 production The Dragon Lives Again. The move comes after several complaints were received from first time viewers who’d been expecting to see the spirit of Bruce Lee battling it out against

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Leopard Fist Ninja | aka The Return of Twin Dragons (1982) Review

AKA: The Return of Twin Dragons Director: Nam Gi-nam Cast: Im Ja-Ho, Baek Hwang-Gi, Kim Yoo-Haeng, Jo Choon, Im Hae-Rim, Chia Kai, Kim Ki-Beom, Jo Hak-Ja, Park Jong-Seol, Choe Jong-Sook, Kang Cheol Running Time: 83 min. By Paul Bramhall By the 1980’s the popularity of the taekwon-action genre was starting to wane in its native Korea, a decline brought on by the hugely popular release of Drunken Master, which saw … Continue reading

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Fallen (2019) Review

"Fallen" Theatrical Poster

Director: Lee Jung-sub Cast: Yang Ji, Jang Tae Young, Han Sung Min, Kim Ga Hyun, Lim Jung Min, Lee Ji Yong, Hwang Se On, Yun Ha Bin, Ju Seo Eun, Oh Ji Young, Kwon Ip Sae Running Time: 110 min.  By Paul Bramhall  In the 2019 Korean production Fallen a famous sci-fi author played by Yang Ji, previously only seen in small bit roles in late 2000’s/early 2010’s productions like … Continue reading

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Demon City (2025) Review

Director: Seiji Tanaka Cast: Toma Ikuta, Masahiro Higashide, Miou Tanaka, Ami Touma, Taro Suruga, Mai Kiryu, Naoto Takenaka, Takuma Otoo, Masanobu Takashima, Matsuya Onoe Running Time: 107 min.  By Paul Bramhall If I had to guess I’d say the audience for Demon City falls into 2 categories – the first being those who’ve been waiting for the sophomore feature from director Seiji Tanaka, and the second being fans of the … Continue reading

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Mickey 17 (2025) Review

Director: Bong Joon-Ho Cast: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, Holliday Grainger, Anamaria Vartolomei, Thomas Turgoose, Cameron Britton Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall When it comes to any artist following up whatever it was that gave them their breakthrough – be it a song, a movie, or any other form of creativity – it’s always a challenge. That challenge is exasperated when we’re talking … Continue reading

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Jade (2025) Review

Director: James Bamford Cast: Shaina West, Mickey Rourke, Mark Dacascos, Katherine McNamara, Steven Michael Quezada, Keith Jardine, Chris Bruno, Mathew Yanagiya, Emily Eruraviel Running Time: 88 min. By Paul Bramhall I get it. You want to make a martial arts movie but don’t have much of a budget, let alone any wiggle room for marketing, so what’s the best thing you can do? The answer is a simple one – … Continue reading

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Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (2025) Review

Director: Tsui Hark Cast: Xiao Zhan, Zhuang Dafei, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Sabina Zhuang, Bayaertu, Alan Aruna, Ada Choi, Wu Hsing-kuo, Hu Jun, Zhang Wenxin, Zhao Shuai Running Time: 146 min.  By Paul Bramhall Novelist Jin Yong’s Legend of the Condor Heroes has been adapted countless times for both the big and small screens since it was first serialised from 1957 – 1959, with each one having to grapple with … Continue reading

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