GAME OF KILLERS
(Taiwan 1982)
Original Title: Xiao Mian Sha Shou Sha Xiao Zi 笑面殺手傻小子
Directed by Hui Sing Yue Produced by Huang Bi Lan Action by Barry Chan Starring: Barry Chan, Chu Shao Hwa, Ma Yu Feng, Chan Long, Su Kuo Liang, Lin Wan Chang, Lin Kuang Yung, Tsai Chong Chiu Reviewing: Terror Vision US Blu-ray Release Genres: Martial-arts / Comedy / Drama
Rating: 3 / 5
Terror Vision US Blu-ray Synopsis: One map. Plenty of killers. Two unlikely friends cross paths and join forces after they come into possession of a map that many are on the lookout for. How will they defend themselves against an army of assassins that are also after that map in this Game Of Killers? Terror Vision is proud to present this rare kung fu film that has been bootlegged and presented unfairly for decades. For the first time since its theatrical release, Game Of Killers is scanned, restored, and presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Game Of Killers survives from a print that was found in a warehouse in China that suffered immense damage and loss of colouring during its chemical breakdown from unhealthy storage conditions. Terror Vision has restored and meticulously colour-timed the print in order to bring you the best possible picture to date. While the picture will still be rough at times, it is impossible NOT to enjoy this rare oddball piece of cinema! (90 Mins)
Views: An abundance of long-haired fighters trade moves in a bid to get their hands on a sacred treasure map. But the map is held tightly in the hands of a jovial young fighter who, along with his stinky friend known as Dirty Cat, are determined to strike it lucky by finding the gold and living their best lives – if they can survive the game of killers!
If you fancy a kung-fu film that doesn't require a lot of thinking and offers plenty of laughs – unintentionally or not – then Game Of Killers may just be the one for you. Offering plenty of silly nonsense and often funny moments that play like a late 70s Jackie Chan or Sammo Hung kung fu-comedy, Game Of Killers is packed with non-stop fight action that doesn't disappoint. With cartoon-like quality characters, such as the two bad guys who are each split down the middle with half a moustache and shaven head, the outrageous antics of the heroic duo, colourful assassins complete with stutters, eye-patches, bizarre kung-fu styles, and long grey wigs, the film is only made weirder with the use of tracks from the Pink Panther cartoons which seem to be stuck on repeat. Of course, true kung-fu movie fans will recognise the snippets of music borrowed from other films from around the same period – but this was not unusual for cheaper productions at that time...
The film is directed by Hui Sing Yue who made his debut with the super-fun Fight For Glory – a fantastic wuxia piece starring Shaw Brothers legends Norman Tsui Siu Keung and David Chiang. While his time in the film industry would be extremely short, Hui would deliver others such as Zhu Zhu Niu, The Sword Of Justice, Student & Bar Girl, Genius Dictator Guards, Red Rattlesnake, and Game Of Killers as well as penning earlier works such as Avengers and Strife For Mastery; another David Chiang film that also starred Raymond Lui, Jason Pai Piao, Mars, Chung Fat, Peter Chan, Mang Hoi, and Tony Lou Chun Ku – director of Bastard Swordsman, Killer Angels, Devil Hunters, and Angel Terminators 2 among many more. Game Of Killers would be the last production under the San Sun Film Company, a Taiwanese production house that only delivered four films between 1973 and 1982 such as the aforementioned Avengers, Fight For Glory, and The Sword Of Justice as well as this.
Hong Kong-born actor and martial-artist Barry Chan, widely known as Wei Tzu Yun or Wai Chi Wan, leads the way as the hero of the piece known as the Smiling Assassin and does a fantastic job as always! I really like Barry Chan. Having trained in the Shaw Brothers film school, Chan went onto appear in a few of their Hong Kong productions in films such as comedy-dramas like Divorce Hong Kong Style, Apartment For Ladies, The Yellow Muffler, and eventually the martial-arts thriller The Black Tavern alongside actors such as Shih Szu, Ku Feng, Tung Li, Wu Ma and Dean Shek. But it was clear that the studio gave his his shot at action too late, as Chan would head to Taiwan soon after where he would find great success as the leading man in many swordplay and martial-arts films such as The Invincible Hero, Fists Of Vengeance, The Chinese Dragon, and more. As his popularity grew, Chan would jump between Taiwan and Hong Kong to star in films like Heroes In The Late Ming Dynasty, The Blazing Temple, Fearless Kung Fu Elements, 72 Desperate Rebels, Militant Eagle, The Deadly Sword, and the wonderfully entertaining Legend Of The Owl alongside David Chiang, Eric Tsang, Yasuaki Kurata, Chen Sing, and Norman Tsui Siu Keung. Chan would eventually move into the television industry soon after Game Of Killers, and still teaches martial-arts today in his 80s.
He is joined by the hilarious and talented Chu Shao Hwa who stars as his sidekick, Dirty Cat, a fast talking tramp with some pretty decent skills that can handle his own in battle. Having shared the screen with Barry Chan a number of times throughout his career in films such as Chinese, The Brave Lion, China Armed Escort and more, Chu's manic character and friendship with Chan just adds to the overall entertainment of the film which comes across quite natural. Kung-fu film fans can also catch Chu in films such as The Shaolin Brothers, Five Kung Fu Daredevil Heroes, Dynasty, The Idiot Swordsman, Fists Of Bruce Lee, Born Invincible, Devil Killer, A Fistful Of Talons, and Jackie Chan classics like Magnificent Bodyguards, Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu, and Fearless Hyena.
Both stars are joined by a team of actors who had crossed paths with them on many productions over the years including Ma Yu Feng who also appeared in Eight Strikes Of The Wild Cat, 72 Desperate Rebels, Devil Killers, Kung Fu Of Eight Drunkards, Monkey Kung Fu, and The Dynamite Trio; Chan Long from films such as The Furious Killer, My Life's On The Line, Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu, Queen Bee's Revenge, and Kung Fu Of Seven Steps; prolific actor and fight director Su Kuo Liang who can be seen in films such as Magnificent Chivalry, New Fist Of Fury, Shaolin Wooden Men, Heroes In The Late Ming Dynasty, 7 Grand Masters, Men Of The Hour, Big Boss Of Shanghai, Dragon Lord, and Taoism Drunkard among many more; and actress Tu Kuei Hua from Iron Bridge Kung Fu, Laughing Fist, and modern titles like Braveful Police, Mission Recall, All Mighty Gambler, Fury In Red, Caged Beauties, and Angel Of Vengeance as well as many more.
Actor brothers and fight choreographers Lin Kuang Yung and Lin Wan Chang also make an appearance, with the latter proving to be a little more known to western fans as the fight director of Jackie Chan's hilarious Fantasy Mission Force where he also stars as the prisoner that makes a stunt-filled escape. As well as appearing in almost 60 titles, Lin would deliver four directorial efforts in the shape of Kung Fu Kids 5 & 6, Young Kickboxer, and the highly entertaining and underrated City Of Darkness which featured Donnie Yen, Colin Chou, and Billy Chow. Of course, both brothers would handle the action in a crazy amount of Taiwanese hits including Eight Strikes Of The Wild Cat, Pink Force Commando, A Book Of Heroes, Funny Family, Death Games, and others such as the Kung Fu Kids Series, Come Fly The Dragon, Requital, King Swindler, and Island On Fire among many others.
Although Barry Chan is often credited with the action seen on screen here in Game Of Killers, there's no doubt that with that much talent involved everyone got their say in the choreography. The fights themselves range between the absurd and energetic to the entertaining, with lengthy bouts allowing everyone involved to show-off their skills with some intricate moves that stay pretty grounded for the most part. Fight after fight, assassin after assassin, Game Of Killers hardly takes a breath when it comes to kung-fu fighting with each one getting better and better as the movie moves along. In fact, the same must be said for this newly restored print from US indie label Terror Vision. Claiming to have found the original negatives in a warehouse in China, the company took the unprotected and heavily damaged prints to scan and restore for their first kung-fu release. And while it's far from perfect, with plenty of scratches and grindhouse quality moments, the film eventually begins to look better and is no doubt the best Game Of Killers has ever looked. So with that, I look forward to whatever else the label will be sending our way!
Overall: Wildly entertaining and crammed with plenty of kung-fu fighting, Game Of Killers is a case of having-seen-it-all-before but still makes for a fun watch!
Terror Vision Blu-ray Extras: Two Versions including Long Lost Mandarin Version, Interview with Barry Chan, Shaun Williams Video Essay on Barry Chan
