With a title like "Raw Force," this movie could have been about anything--a gritty cop drama, a kickboxing revenge story, a rapey half-mans-half-monkeys melodrama, or perhaps a women in prison film. The possibilities are kinda endless, making the title all the more alluring since this film came into my home sans-cover as part of the 20-movie "Grindhouse Experience" DVD collection. Imagine my delight to discover that "Raw Force" is a US/Philippines co-production of "Counter Destroyer"-level madness. Now, if I'd seen the poster shown here, I might be a bit disappointed. I mean, yeah, all that stuff is in it, but... still. That poster sets the bar kinda fucking high, don't you think?
I know there's a lot of debate over the value of the label "So Bad It's Good" but--dear friends--this movie earns that distinction. Generally speaking, movies made with the intention of being low-budget action- or horror-comedies fall flat, but this is just so ineptly-yet-lovingly crafted that I just couldn't hate it. Its humorous moments were so surreal in nature as to border on art, and the increasingly insane plot clipped along at a pleasantly brisk pace.
On tonight's very special episode of "The A Team..."
I imagine the suspense is killing you by now, isn't it? You're dying to know exactly what "Raw Force" is about, aren't you? Sit down, take a deep breath, and I'll clue you in.
"Raw Force" is characterized by its use of subtle historical allusions
"Raw Force" is about a Hitler-moustached jade smuggler (accompanied by his be-mulleted pot-smoking sidekick, who we know is a hippie because he says "maaaan" a lot) who is kidnapping and human-trafficking Filipina prostitutes to an island inhabited by cannibal monks who have the power to raise the corpses of the dead kung-fu outcasts who are buried there. When a low-budget cruise-ship full of Eighties Stereotypes (captained by Cameron "Never Say No To A Paycheck" Mitchell) sets its course for this island, the smugglers stage a whimsically-attired pirate raid on the ship to halt their progress. There are survivors of this vicious-yet-ludicrous attack that include the SWAT team member named Cookie (no, really) and four karate masters who find themselves stranded on the monks' island where a final showdown (or several, really) takes place.
It's eighty minutes of unadulterated insanity, seasoned with giant killer piranhas, a murderous Mafia wife, naked chicks galore, a Nazi pirate in heart-print boxer shorts, and more poorly-dubbed maniacal laughter than you could possibly hope for. By the time the zombie ninjas showed up, I was wearing a quite-possibly-alarming grin. Even the inexplicable birthday-party-cum-orgy (for a character who otherwise has no role in the film) comedy montage made me beam at its brazen stupidry. An entire cake gets dropped on a woman, prompting her to run up to one of the protagonists' rooms to shower and--aber naturlisch--get it on! A chubby balding man breaks ice with his head! Another man inexplicably talks about how nude modeling is the Devil's work, and this never comes up in the film again! HELP--IT'S ALL TOO AWESOME!!!!
Is it a coincidence that Rey King's only screen credit is "Raw Force?" I sense this still was captured right before or after some Inappropriate Touching.
Karate Guy: "What did he want?"
Cameron Mitchell Captain Guy: "I'm not sure, but it wasn't my body!"
"I'm having a CRAPGASM!"
To say every line is uttered with a straight face would be to imply that this was an intentional acting choice, and I certainly don't want to suggest this. I suspect every line was uttered with a straight face because it was being spoken by someone who'd never been in front of a camera before and was paralyzed by fear, or perhaps in the grips of a powerful drug.
Yes, "Raw Force," I will be here for your continuation. I'm waiting. It's been over twenty-five years--the world needs you now more than ever.
Bask in the glow of "Raw Force" on Flickr.
8 comments:
Now, stuck in my head, I have Burt Bacharach singing "What the world needs now/ Is force/ Raw force./ No, not just for some/ But for everyone."
You'd think that'd drive a man insane, but it is actually kind of comforting.
I have the Grindhouse collection of which you speak, but I haven't hit this one yet. I am aquiver with anticipation.
I can't help noting the esteemed Victor Diaz as one of the cannibal monks there, which led me to re-read my own review of Black Mama, White Mama in which Vic has a wonderful turn as one of the sleazier, more intimidating baddies I've ever seen in a blaxploitation Defiant Ones rip-off, and lo and behold! One of my commenters had recommended to me a movie with Vic as a cannibal monk under the title Kung-Fu Cannibals, which as it turns out is an alternate title for Raw Force! And the wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'...
This sounds and looks all kinds of wonderful--the cartoonish Nazi in heart-boxers is kind of amazing...but you had me at "cannibal monks who can raise kung-fu warriors from the dead." A must-see!
Thanks again, Empress--if you weren't doing what you do, I don't know who would be able to fill that hole...
CRWM--your Burt Bacharach reference is so completely APPROVED. I hope you dig this movie as much as I did--it made my tiny heart swell four sizes upon viewing.
Vicar--yep, it's Vic Diaz, all right :) If you're open to suggestions, I'm going to go ahead and suggest you check out Tenebrous Empire Fave "The Big Bird Cage." IT CHANGED MY LIFE. As to the titles of this movie, I've gotta say I prefer "Raw Force" for its mystery. "Kung Fu Cannibals" isn't even accurate--it should be "Kung Fu AND Cannibals" as the Kung Fu masters are *not* the cannibals. I'm a stickler for correctness.
Hey, they raided my parents' liquor cabinet! Nice shot of the ubiquitous bottle of JB (clearly dropping in class level from the days of Femina Ridens in the late 60s).
Is it just me, or does the dude in the white suit with the Adolf Stache look like he's trying out for a cut-rate version of Fantasy Island? Thanks for the review Kate. If the film is half as much fun as your review, then it is probably awesome.
Fred--I am SO greenlighting that episode of "Fantasy Island!" I'm picturing a very special episode in which Ricardo Montalban is kidnapped and replaced as part of a fiendish plot to institute the Fourth Reich. In my brain, it's *amazing*.
Nice one, Kate! I've never seen this flick and now after reading your review I'll have to check it out! How does the picture look on this title? I know some of the movies in this series look a bit rough.
Along the lines of inept foreign action trash like this I always enjoyed "Virgins From Hell" (which you reviewed) and "The Clones of Bruce Lee" although some consider the latter a real endurance test.
Thanks, Brian! I suspect this film will meet with approval from your discerning palate. The print was, indeed, VERY rough in spots--it was clearly a transfer from VHS, and there were points where the tape skipped that were lovingly transferred onto the DVD. Still in all, it's worth bearing with some crummy moments to see this little gem. As to "Clones of Bruce Lee," well, I pretty much HAVE to add that to my must-see list!
TK,
I check this out last night and it was all you'd said it would be and more.
The "mondo X" style doc its paired with is a lame dog, but Raw Force is all win.
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