Hsi Chang
House of Traps
It all started with The Five Venoms, the internationally loved kung-fu thriller which introduced director Chang Cheh’s recurring cast of martial arts masters. It continued through more than a dozen high-flying, bloody good entertainment movies featuring the same action actors in pairs, trios, quartets, and, most memorably, quintets. While this is considered the last official “Venoms” movie, what a film it is. The title does not lie: an evil prince has secreted stolen imperial treasures in a building that practically bristles with booby-trapped blades. Bodies are pierced, limbs are cut off, and there’s one plasma-spurting attack after another as heroes and rogues alike try to solve the secrets of the hell house. The core Venoms themselves choreograph the gory fun in this fond farewell to their worldwide film series sensation.
Apple TV
Hex
With this eerie, frightening, supernatural mystery thriller, director Kuei Chih-Hung put his first “hex” on the audience. Starring the lovely Tanny Tien Ni in a challenging role of a wronged, bed-ridden wife who is at the mercy of her evil husband... and so much more. What starts as an Asian variation of the classic Fench suspense film Diabolique becomes an exercise in fervid and frightening Hong Kong horror as one ghost after another appears to wreak havoc, insanity, and death.
Apple TV
The Deadly Knives
When an unscrupulous Japanese financier’s sordid family tries to rape and pillage everything noble kung-fu student Yen Tzu-fei holds dear, he must use his fists of vengeance to prove there can be no forgiveness or mercy.
Apple TV
The Shadow Boxing
When reputable fight choreographer Liu Chia-Liang debuted as a director with The Spiritual Boxer, it not only established him as a superb director, but it also encouraged other martial arts instructors to turn to directing. Plus, it was the first film to introduce comedy into kung-fu so it made sense for Liu to return to that foundation with the same bumbling idiot Wang Yu still not quite getting it when it comes to the affair of ghost control in The Shadow Boxing. Liu also brings in both of his brothers Liu Chia-Yung and Liu Chia-Hui, which guaranteed that the fights would be an extra notch above magnificent, further ensuring that the audience had never seen anything like it before. The Shadow Boxing was twice as successful as The Spiritual Boxer.
Amazon Prime VideoApple TV
Apple iTunesFists of Vengeance
When an unscrupulous Japanese financier’s sordid family tries to rape and pillage everything noble kung-fu student Yen Tzu-fei holds dear, he must use his fists of vengeance to prove there can be no forgiveness or mercy.
Apple TVApple iTunes