Rating: ***
Review Date: 9/30/24
Cast: Teng Wei, Wang Lung, Yuen Wah, Ku Feng, Liu Hui-Ling, Dick Wei
Minister of Justice Yang puts a plan in motion to infiltrate and destroy the nefarious Seven Deadly Kills Legion by exposing their mysterious Supreme Leader. His campaign sows misinformation and mistrust among the legion and they start killing each other trying to root out a suspected traitor in their midst. Everything builds up to some excellent kung fu fighting between Wang Lung, Teng Wei, and Yuen Wah. A young Dick Wei also shows up to dish out some punishment, which is nice to see. As was typical at the time, the film ends on an abrupt freeze frame of the victors the instant after the villain collapses.
It's a good-looking and well-made film, and the fights are fun and plentiful. While it's a slow starter, the fight scenes become increasingly more impressive as the film wears on, and Yuen Wah (wearing a ridiculous bald cap) gives an outstanding performance. Teng Wei, sporting a ridiculous painted-on beard, is marvelous and moves with acrobatic grace and agility. And of course, Wang Lung is fantastic, despite the fact that he's wearing a white moustache on top of his existing moustache.
It may be that the subtleties are lost in translation, but the convoluted plot is difficult to follow and the characters often behave in baffling ways. It's an unapologetically grim film and nearly everyone dies a horrible death. The Supreme Leader is laughably overpowered, and even a sword through the heart doesn't stop him. Overall, it's a fun piece of classic kung fu in the style of Chang Cheh, but without the campiness and gore.