Category Archives: Reviews

Special Actors (2019) Review

Director: Shinichiro Ueda Cast: Kazuto Osawa, Hiroki Kono, Miyu Ogawa, Hayate Masao, Nozomi de Lencquesaing Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall  In 2017 Shinichiro Ueda’s micro-budget zombie movie One Cut of the Dead burst onto the scene fuelled almost purely by word of mouth, a production which cleverly subverted the type of movie audiences thought they were watching to entertaining and hilarious effect. His sophomore feature, following up such … Continue reading

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Fatal Raid, The (2019) Review

Director: Jacky Lee Cast: Patrick Tam Yiu-Man, Michael Tong Man-Lung, Jade Leung Ching, Sharon Luk, Lin Min-Chen, Jadie Lin, Jeana Ho, Hidy Yu, Chiu Sin-Hang, Yona Fong Running Time: 91 min.  By Paul Bramhall The Fatal Raid originally started out as a sequel to 2016’s Special Female Force, but somewhere along the way it was decided to scrap the sequel angle and make it a standalone story with different characters. … Continue reading

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Special Delivery (2022) Review

Director: Park Dae-Min Cast: Park So-Dam, Song Sae-Byeok, Kim Eui-Sung, Jeong Hyun-Jun, Yum Hye-Ran, Han Hyun-Min, Heo Dong-Won, Yeon Woo-Jin, Baek Do-Gyum Running Time: 108 min. By Paul Bramhall  Following in the footsteps of Jason Statham in The Transporter series, in Special Delivery Park So-dam continues the fine cinematic tradition of playing a character who transports “anything that regular post carriers can’t.” Like its predecessors, Special Delivery frames itself as … Continue reading

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VR Fighter | aka One More Shot (2021) Review

Director: Tang Qiaojia Cast: Fan Siu-Wong, Yiyi Jiang, Diego Dati, Jiang Yi-Yi, Wang Zhipeng, Song Ziqiao, Tang Hu Running Time: 80 min. By Paul Bramhall The web movie has become something of a cultural phenomenon in China. While what can be considered the first official Chinese web movie is up for debate, it’s a trend which has continued to grow at a rapid rate since their inception in the mid-2010’s. Fuelled … Continue reading

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Witch: Part 2. The Other One, The (2022) Review

"The Witch: Part 2. The Other One" Theatrical Poster

Director: Park Hoon-Jung Cast: Shin Shi-A, Park Eun-Bin, Seo Eun-Su, Jin Goo, Sung Yoo-Bin, Lee Jong-Suk, Jo Min-Soo Running Time: 137 min. By Paul Bramhall At the end of my review for 2018’s The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, I finished up by saying “If we do get another round of witchery, here’s hoping Hoon-jung go’s for a less is more approach, with more focus on being lean and mean, … Continue reading

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Roundup, The | aka The Outlaws II (2022) Review

Director: Lee Sang-yong Cast: Ma Dong-Seok, Son Suk-Ku, Choi Gwi-Hwa, Park Ji-Hwan, Heo Dong-Won, Ha-Joon, Jeong Jae-Kwang, Eum Moon-Suk, Nam Moon-Chul, Park Ji-Young Running Time: 106 min. By Paul Bramhall  Burly Korean actor Ma Dong-seok’s popularity skyrocketed after his supporting turn as a zombie bashing protective husband in 2016’s Train to Busan, leading to him featuring in a whopping 13 productions from 2017 – 2019, over half of which he … Continue reading

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Sadness, The (2021) Review

Director: Rob Jabbaz Cast: Berant Zhu, Regina Lei, Tzu-Chiang Wang, Emerson Tsai, Wei-Hua Lan, Ralf Chiu, Ying-Ru Chen Running Time: 99 min. By Paul Bramhall  Taiwan may not be the first country that you think of when discussing the zombie genre, but it has thrown its hat into the ring a couple of times in recent years. In 2012 director Joe Chien made his debut with Zombie 108, a low … Continue reading

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Broker (2022) Review

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda  Cast: Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doona, Lee Ji-eun, Lee Joo-young, Park Ji-yong, Im Seung-soo, Kang Gil-woo, Lee Moo-saeng, Ryu Kyung-soo Running Time: 129 min.  By Paul Bramhall  There are those filmmakers out there whose cinematic identity feels distinctly attached to the country that they hail from. Akira Kurosawa will always be associated with Japanese cinema much the same way Jean Luc-Godard will always be associated with French … Continue reading

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Cruel Gun Story (1964) Review

Director: Takumi Furukawa Cast: Jo Shishido, Chieko Matsubara, Tamio Kawaji, Shobun Inoue, Yuji Odaka, Minako Kazuki, Hiroshi Nihonyanagi, Hiroshi Kondo, Saburo Hiromatsu Running Time: 87 min. By Henry McKeand In the 1960s, the Japanese studio Nikkatsu made a string of hard-edged crime thrillers that became known as “borderless action” films. They received this distinction because they borrowed from international influences, combining classic American noir and French New Wave gangster cool … Continue reading

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Interceptor (2022) Review

Director: Matthew Reilly Cast: Elsa Pataky, Luke Bracey, Aaron Glenane, Mayen Mehta, Paul Caesar, Belinda Jombwe, Marcus Johnson, Zoe Carides, Kim Knuckey, Deniz Akdeniz Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall I have to be honest, writing about Matthew Reilly in 2022 is not something I saw coming. To give some background, way back in 2000 my friend lent me a book, handing it over with the ominous words “You … Continue reading

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Blonde Fury, The | aka Lady Reporter (1989) Review

Director: Meng Hoi Cast: Cynthia Rothrock, Chin Siu Ho, Meng Hoi, Elizabeth Lee Mei Fung, Roy Chiao, Billy Chow, Ronny Yu Yan Tai, Jeff Falcon, Vincent Lyn, Chung Fat, Tai Bo, Melvin Wong Gam San, Wu Ma, Hsiao Ho, Kwan Yung, James Tien Chun Running Time: 90 min. By Martin Sandison In 1995, when I was 13, I visited my local video shop. Ah, those were the days. How I … Continue reading

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Paid in Blood | aka Tomb of the River (2021) Review

Director: Yoon Young-Bin Cast: Yu Oh-Seong, Jang Hyuk, Park Sung-Geun, Oh Dae-Hwan, Lee Hyun-Kyun, Shin Seung-Hwan, Song Young-Kyu, Kim Jun-Bae, Lee Chae-Young, Han Sun-Hwa  Running Time: 119 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2021’s Paid in Blood everything that’s old feels new again, a Korean gangster flick that harkens back to the late 90’s/early 2000’s heyday, a time when Korea practically made the gangster movie a genre of its own. Of course … Continue reading

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Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021) Review

Director: Sion Sono Cast: Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Ed Skrein, Tak Sakaguchi, Bill Moseley, Nick Cassavetes, Yuzuka Nakaya, Young Dais, Koto Lorena, Jai West, Cici Zhou Running Time: 103 min. By Henry McKeand When talking or writing about Nicolas Cage, the word “extreme” inevitably comes up. In some ways, it has defined his career, leading to a perhaps unfair reputation as an overactor. This reputation, coupled with memes and viral … Continue reading

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White Storm 2: Drug Lords, The (2019) Review

Director: Herman Yau Cast: Andy Lau, Louis Koo, Michael Miu, Karena Lam, Kent Cheng, Gordon Lam, Chrissie Chau, Cherrie Ying, Michelle Wai, MC Jin (Jin Au-Yeung), Ben Yuen  Running Time: 100 min. By Paul Bramhall In 2013 the late Benny Chan unleashed The White Storm, one of the most divisive Hong Kong action movies in recent memory. While some hailed it is a glorious throwback to the heroic bloodshed era, … Continue reading

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Kiltro (2006) Review

Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza Cast: Marko Zaror, Caterina Jadresic, Miguel Angel De Luca, Daniela Lhorente, Luis Alarcón, Alejandro Castillo, Man Soo Yoon, Roberto Avendano Running Time: 93 min. By Henry McKeand At first glance, Marko Zaror is what you expect from an action star. A tall, intimidating martial artist from Chile with an intense screen presence, he was first introduced to most action fans as the villainous Dolor in the … Continue reading

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