Category Archives: Reviews

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972) Review

Director: Shunya Ito Story: Toru Shinohara Cast: Meiko Kaji, Fumio Watanabe, Kayoko Shiraishi, Yukie Kagawa, Yuki Arasa, Hideo Murota Running Time: 94 min. By Kyle Warner In the opening moments of Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41, we find our antihero Matsu the Scorpion (Meiko Kaji) chained up in solitary confinement. She’s been locked away for a year after the bloodshed she caused in the previous film. The series’ familiar theme song … Continue reading

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Blood Father (2016) Review

"Blood Father" Promotional Poster

Director: Jean-François Richet Cast: Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty, Diego Luna, Michael Parks, William H. Macy, Elisabeth Rohm, Thomas Mann Running Time: 88 min. By Zach Nix Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon, Mad Max) is one of cinema’s most rewarding figures. He’s worn many faces over the decades: actor, action star, filmmaker, and even comedian. Although he’s been successful on all fronts and always been a reliable entertainer, I personally believe that … Continue reading

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Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972) Review

"Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Shunya Ito Cast: Meiko Kaji, Rie Yokoyama, Yayoi Watanabe, Yōko Mihara, Akemi Negishi, Keiko Kuni, Yumiko Katayama, Emi Jo, Isao Natsuyagi, Fumio Watanabe Running Time: 87 min. By Kelly Warner Almost every ambitious leading man or lady is on the lookout for that iconic role that will shoot them to superstardom, netting them a legion of fans and hopefully a mountain of cash. Roles that earn awards can prove … Continue reading

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Godfather’s Daughter Mafia Blues, The (1991) Review

"The Godfather’s Daughter Mafia Blues" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Fung Hak On Cast: Mark Cheng Ho Nam, Yukari Oshima, Alex Man Chi Leung, Dick Wei, Ken Lo, Wong Yu, Leung Kar Yan, Tai Bo, Anthony Carpio, Chan Daat Gong, Benny Lai Keung Kuen, Chow Kong, Chu Tau, Mark King, Foo Wang Tat Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall The Godfather’s Daughter Mafia Blues, besides having a title that resembles a Bob Dylan song gone wrong, rarely seems … Continue reading

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Undaunted Wudang, The | aka Wu Tang (1983) Review

"The Undaunted Wudang" DVD Cover

AKA: The Wu Tang Director: Sun Sha Writer: Xie Wen-Li Cast: Lin Quan, Zhao Chang-Jun , Li Yu-Wen, Ma Zhen-Bang , Tang Ya-Li, Yang Yong, Zang Zhi-Guo, Mao Ying-Hai, Zhao Qiu-Rong, Sun Jian-Ming, Xu Chang-Wen Running time: 94 min By Matija Makotoichi Tomic The importance and the historical significance of Shaolin Temple and its monks is well known so it’s no wonder a lot of kung fu movies are Shaolin … Continue reading

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Sadako vs Kayako | aka The Ring vs The Grudge (2016) Review

"Sadako vs Kayako" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Ring vs Ju-On Director: Koji Shiraishi Cast: Mizuki Yamamoto, Tina Tamashiro, Aimi Satsukawa, Masahiro Komoto, Masanobu Ando Running Time: 99 min. By Paul Bramhall Starting any review of Sadako vs Kayako might as well begin with a recap of the two titular horror movie franchises that they’re a part of. As the cursed spirit of the Ringu series, this installment notches up Sadako’s twelfth onscreen appearance (soon to be … Continue reading

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Phone, The (2015) Revew

"The Phone" Korean Theatrical Poster

Director: Kim Bong-Joo Cast: Son Hyun-Joo, Uhm Ji-Won, Bae Sung-Woo, Hwang Bo-Ra, Roh Jeong-Eui, Jang In-Sub, Jo Dal-Hwan, Lee Sheol-Min, Park Ji-So, Hwang Suk-Jung Running Time: 114 min. By Paul Bramhall The Phone joins the ranks of that great Korean tradition – the movie which contains something about a phone in its title. Alongside the 2002 horror movie, which went for the simplistic Phone, and the 2009 thriller, which decided … Continue reading

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Death Warrant | aka Dusted (1990) Review

"Death Warrant" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Deran Sarafian Writer: David S. Goyer Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robert Guillaume, Cynthia Gibb, George Dickerson, Patrick Kilpatrick, Dean Colbby, Art LaFleur, Abdul Sazaam El Razzac, Joshua John Miller, Conrad Dunn, Al Leong, Paulo Tocha Running Time: 90 min. By Kyle Warner When Jeffrey Bona, operator of City on Fire, told me that he’d like to see every Jean-Claude Van Damme flick reviewed at the site, I might’ve laughed. … Continue reading

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Exit Wounds (2001) Review

Exit Wounds | Blu-ray (Warner)

AKA: Dengeki Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak Cast: Steven Seagal, DMX, Isaiah Washington, Anthony Anderson, Michael Jai White, Bill Duke, Jill Hennessy, Tom Arnold, Eva Mendes Running Time: 101 min. By Zach Nix Steven Seagal is one of action and martial arts cinema’s most fascinating creatures. He broke out onto the action scene almost out of nowhere with several fantastic vehicles, such as Above the Law, Hard to Kill, and Marked for … Continue reading

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Train to Busan (2016) Review

"Train to Busan" Theatrical Poster

Director: Yeon Sang-Ho Writer: Park Joo-suk Cast: Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-Seok, Jung Yu-Mi, Choi Woo-Sik, Ahn So-Hee, Kim Soo-Ahn Running Time: 118 min. By Paul Bramhall Korea’s film industry is one which is rarely associated with the medium of animation, however one name that may change all that is director Yeon Sang-ho, who’s been successfully carving out a name for himself within the animated arena. His hard hitting features like … Continue reading

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House in the Alley (2012) Review

"House in the Alley" Vietnamese Poster

Director: Le-Van Kiet Writer: Le-Van Kiet Producer: Dan Trong Tran Cast: Veronica Ngo, Son Bao Tran, Van Hai Bui Running Time: 93 min. By Kelly Warner It’s been my experience that some of the finest horror films work so well because they build their dread and terror by taking their time, letting the scares linger, allowing the horror to slowly bubble over. An in-your-face horror film like Shinya Tsukamoto’s Tetsuo: The … Continue reading

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Deadly Kick, The | aka Dragon King (1976) Review

"The Deadly Kick" Korean Theatrical Poster

AKA: The Rival Director: Go Yeong-nam Co-director: Lo Lieh Cast: Lo Lieh, Bobby Kim, Pearl Lin Yin Zhu, Han Mi-ja, Im Eun-ju, Kim Ki-ju, Jin Bong-jin, Gam Kei Chu, Bruce Cheung Mong, Chan Feng Chen, Chiu Chun Running Time: 93 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1972 the Shaw Brothers production King Boxer was released in the US, under the title of Five Fingers of Death, and is largely considered to … Continue reading

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Black Tavern, The (1972) Review

"The Black Tavern" Chinese Theatrical Poster

Director: Teddy Yip Producer: Run Run Shaw Cast: Shih Szu, Ku Feng, Dean Shek Tien, Tung Li, Wong Hap, Yue Fung, Kong Ling, Kwok Chuk Hing, Lee Ho, Barry Chan Wai Ji Wan, Chan Chan Kong, Unicorn Chan, Cheung Hei, Chiang Nan, Chu Gam, Ho Kei Cheong Running Time: 83 min. By Matija Makotoichi Tomic Seems it’s impossible to write a review about The Black Tavern without mentioning King Hu. … Continue reading

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House (1977) Review

"House" Japanese Theatrical Poster

Director: Nobuhiko Obayashi Cast: Kimiko Ikegami, Miki Jinbo, Ai Matubara, Kumiko Oba, Mieko Sato, Eriko Tanaka, Masayo Miyako, Yoko Minamida, Kiyohiko Ozaki, Saho Sasazawa Running Time: 88 min. By Martin Sandison Ten years ago my knowledge of Japanese cult cinema was lacking to say the least. Then the best cinema in Scotland, The Filmhouse, put on a season where I caught 11 movies in two weeks. The titles I watched … Continue reading

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Until Death (2007) Review

"Until Death" Japanese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Detective Director: Simon Fellows Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Gary Beadle, Stephen Rea, Mark Dymond, Selina Giles, Rachel O’Meara, William Ash, Stephen Lord, Wes Robinson Running Time: 101 min. By Kyle Warner In the decade since Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the American film industry has found a second home in the city. After (and in some cases before) cleanup crews made the city pristine again, new tax credits brought … Continue reading

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