Low Blow (1986) User Reviews

A fairly good action movie with a good cast !

[move-7 · 5/10 · 30 May 2005]

A pretty good cast here with ... Leo Fong , Cameron Mitchell , Stack Pierce , Akosua Busia , Troy Donaghue , Diane Stevenett and I think that Hope Holliday plays a small part as a Head Mistress of a school.

Four of these actors incl Leo Fong are from the other movie Kill Point ! Cameron Mitchell (High Chapparel 1960's TV Western) as Yarakunda is just plain weird. Akosua Busia (Colour Purple) as the sadistic Karma , is weird as well but SO gorgeous it isn't funny. Diane Stevenett as Joe Wong's secretary Diane is really cute and plays her part fairly well. Stack Pierce as Corky , as always is mean looking deadly and certainly comes up well , as well as can be expected. I'm sure though that his part in the movie has a different name , possibly "Duke". Anyway he throws some good punches. He is a first rate actor !

I suppose that you can't expect any Oscar award winning from Leo Fong , but never the less I have seen worse actors. Actually Leo Fong isn't too bad as an actor and even though he's never had the coaching I'd bet he's got more ability than Arnie and JCVD. He can be quite funny at times and has his moments and you realize that you get a liking for the guy.

I suppose that he's a little mechanical , but you can see the breaks where he lightens up every so often.

The movie is a bit better than mediocre and has some good action scenes. Leo Fong is quite a good martial artist and even though you don't see all of the acrobatics and technical trickery etc ... you get some realistic scenes. Fong as you can see is a pretty strong guy and for his age he does well. The best action part is in the building where Fong takes on a couple of guys an does them over. The part on the stair case is good !

All in all I quite enjoyed the movie and his part as Joe Wong. And what a rough scruffy PI he is. You sort of get the impression that as soon as he'd make the money from a case he'd spend it on whatever before the bills etc.

I own this on DVD now but I saw it a couple of years back and then I recalled seeing it sometime in the late 80's . I thought that the actor was MA Expert and board breaker Pu Gill Gwon , the author of "The New Forms of Tae Kwon Do" Anyway its not Pu Gill Kwoon or Pu Gill Gwon , Its Leo Fong an I'm glad that I have the movie as I'll watch it again.

Dirty Leo takes out the trash!

[Coolestmovies · 4/10 · 30 April 2010]

Private dick Leo Fong is hired by millionaire Troy Donahue to rescue his runaway heiress daughter from Cameron Mitchell's pan-theistic "Universal Enlightenment" cult. Mitchell calls himself "Yarakunda", has a pentagram on his cheek, a red dot on his forehead, a cross around his neck, wears big Jim Jones sunglasses, dresses like a druid and hardly ever stands up during the entire film, so you know he means business, or possibly wasn't paid enough to actually act. Oh yes, and he's also blind, which means his Godly visions are more better than yours, so there. But Fong means business too! The sign on his office door reads: "Joe Wong, Private Investigator, Bounty Hunting, Conflict Management, Kung-Fu Fighting Lessons and World Headquarters of the Wei Kuen Do Association". (and yes, that's supposed to be funny) When he's not blasting away scumbags at his local deli ("Hey, forget the ham sandwich!"), taking down redneck purse snatchers, or deflating stereotypes about Chinese food and Asian drivers in Big American Cars, he's rounding up a motley team of specialists to aid him on the rescue mission by staging a tough man contest that attracts ninjas, kung-fu masters, Hispanic knife-fighters, black boxers, redneck purse snatchers and a female bodybuilder in red panties. Really. Frank Harris' direction here is a very slight improvement over his work on KILLPOINT, but it's Fong's screenplay that saves the day, using popular contempo action/buddy movie clichés to buttress his rather loopy main story. The puzzler here is real-life Ghanian princess Akosua Busia, who squanders the goodwill she engendered in Steven Spielberg's THE COLOR PURPLE by appearing here as Mitchell's conniving, sadistic daughter-slash-wife. Fortunately, her career would survive. One the plus side, Fong kicks Billy Blanks' ass, puts his foot THROUGH another man's head, and cuts the roof off a Mercedes-Benz hiding three goons who apparently can't find the door handles during the several minutes it takes Fong to run around the car cutting the roof supports. Hilarious stuff!

Fun 80s Action Trash!

[Crap_Connoisseur · 12 December 2005]

This movie reeks of 1980s, straight-to-video action: zero budget special effects, "filler" action sequences and some utterly loony acting. It may sound bizarre, but those are also the very reasons why I enjoy this film so much.

In comparison the action movies of today, Low Blow seems positively wholesome. There is not much blood, no sex and the emphasis is more on fist fighting than high-tech weaponry. However, the film is never boring. The action is fairly constant and there are occasional touches of humour along the way.

Leo Fong plays private detective, Joe Wong. Joe is hired to find a missing rich girl, Karen. Karen not only has a very unattractive hairstyle but is also completely moronic, as evidenced by her falling in with one of the most ridiculous cults ever depicted on film - complete with a black sheet wearing blind guru and a crazy woman played by real life Ghanian princess Akosua Busia. Leo Fong's dead-pan delivery and no frills martial arts style suit his character perfectly. A special mention must be given to Akosua who turns in the most ludicrous performance of her career.

After having his butt kicked trying to infiltrate the compound, Joe realises that he needs assistance taking out the wackos and naturally enough, decides to hold a tough man contest to find some extra muscle. The scenes of the contest are some of my favourite in the movie. The fights are brief but varied and amusing. I particularly liked the wrestlers and the bizarre iron lady with the blond mullet. The film then comes to its rather predictable climax with some fun action and a good dose of humour.

$500 budget

[dolphlundgren87 · 2/10 · 19 April 2005]

I wouldn't be surprised if this movie was made on a $500 budget with its bad acting an ultra poor sound quality. I bought the DVD for $3.00, and after watching it I felt like I had payed $2.95 too much.

The DVD cover displays a steroid freak (main character), a huge truck and a group of 80's punk rockers with M16 machine guns. Well, in the actual movie, there was no truck, no 80's punks and the main character was far from a steroid freak.

The most enjoyable thing about this movie was the main character's bomb car and his mad parking techniques, but other than that it's a complete waste of time. Although this movie is a great cure for insomnia, my advice would be to avoid it.

"Bring Your Mind Into The Past, Present And Future"

[PaulEss777 · 2/10 · 12 April 2024]

The bootless trio from the annoyingly haired 'Killpoint' is back : director Frank Harris, and 'stars' Leo Fong and Cameron Mitchell. A triumvirate of terrible. Harris in particular, should be ashamed of himself.

'Low Blow' isn't as sick, racist or downright nasty as 'Killpoint' - and that's it. It's just as amateur, vacant, irritating and soul-destroying in every other regard. Fong, despite slightly improved hair, drudges through this all-out dog's breakfast like a stop-motion clog.

A ridiculous, dozy cult led by Mitchell in a hood and sunglasses; and - the film's only plus-point - dishy but demented disciple, Akosua Busia, have kidnapped some girl and are brainwashing her on a farm. It's up to somnambulant Fong and a few bumpy grunts to rescue her.

All Fong films' selling point is chiefly the fact he knew Bruce Lee, but so did a lot of other people. I met Sir Michael Hordern once, but I don't go around doing Lear at the Old Vic.

You may ask - justifiably - why even watch this turnip ?

Good question.

I have seen many movies, and this is one of a kind!

[dougriley · 1/10 · 26 August 2002]

Having watched over 5000 movies in my lifetime, I can truly say this is by far the worst movie I have ever seen. I watched it ten years ago, and sadly I still remember it. But for a lack of even mediocre actors, any plot line, any continuity, any thrown punches that came close to connecting, or a sound editor who could synchronize the actors' voices and their mouth movements, this could have been a passable movie. That the best actor in the movie, in my opinion, was a woman who had three lines says much about the crew more than the cast. Yes the cast was bad, but even a good actor is only as good as the writing, editing, sound, and directing. Thankfully I have never seen another movie even close to this bad. Avoid this movie at all costs, unless you want to experience real pain. I doubt you'd make it through this piece of trash.

mumble the blessed mumble mumble

[Bezenby · 6/10 · 13 August 2013]

Cameron Mitchell's career is varied to say the least. One minute he's Minessota Clay, next he's a crazed gangster in Medusa, or a cop in The Nightmare Never Ends. If it was possible to speak to him today, I'd set myself down next to him at a bar, slide him a beer and say "Hey Cam, what was the easiest gig you ever did?" Unfortunately he can't answer, but I'm sure he would have said: "Probably that martial arts film where I didn't even need to get out of a seat, wore sunglasses, mumbled a lot, and groped a young actress." That film would be Low Blow, an action film starring Mitchell (who was an ex-special forces bar man in Codename Vengeance), Leo Fong, with an appearance by Stack Pierce (of Pyshic Killer 'fame'). Fong is an ex-cop turned PI, who seems to spend his time dealing with endemic street crime in San Francisco. While he's out kicking the heads in of two bag snatchers, he's spotted and hired by businessman John Templeton, in order to rescue his daughter from a cheesy new age cult (led by Mitchell (who played a crap cop in The Demon), but run with an iron fist by his daughter/wife!). Mitchell (who was a slick businessman in Memorial Valley Massacre), who wears sunglasses, a hooded robe, and a star on his cheek, seems oblivious to all the armed guards and beating and rambles on about the meek and says 'Blessed' a lot.

Fong pays a visit to the cult's plantation and immediately gets into bother with hired goons hanging around the place. He ends up rescuing a dude but reckons he's gonna need back up to get the businessman's daughter back, and you know what that means, right? Correct: A fairly pointless fighting competition, complete with Stack Pierce, ninjas, and a strong woman. Gang assembled, they all head off for a final showdown at the plantation (which involves needlessly killing hired goons whom, up until that point, had hardly hurt anyone.

You won't get much in the way of gore in this film (except for the bit where Fong stamps his foot right through a guy's face!) as Low Blow is played more for laughs than anything. This is just as well, as some of the acting is dodgy to say the least (especially Fong's secretary). Mitchell as usual just falls into the roll smoothly (he always seems to be enjoying himself, which is why I enjoy most films he's in), put I wouldn't put this high up on your list of films to see. It's good enough, but no classic, that Low Brow film.

If you enjoy motion sickness, nausea and having your hearing destroyed, then watch this movie.

[bzparkes-1 · 1/10 · 4 May 2005]

On the box this movie reads "Hit hard, hit first and hit with a LOW Blow". Well, after watching this movie I felt that I had been hit with a low blow. This movie is shocking. The acting is truly abominable and the attempts at humour really are pathetic. The absolute worst part of the movie however, has to be the soundtrack. There is constant soloing guitars playing in the background and there is no relief from it. I felt like my head was going to explode from all the pent up pressure before the movie finally finished.

Unless you're into bizarre forms of torture, don't watch this movie. I watched it when I was drunk and it was still bad. I'd shudder to think what it would have been like if I was sober...

Awesome

[fishboy_rex2000 · 10/10 · 14 January 2006]

like others here, i bought this movie for $3. And yes, the acting is awful, it is low budget, the case has nothing to do with the movie, and the soundtrack appears to consist of one song. However, it is one of the funniest movies i have ever seen. Does the fact that it is not intentionally funny cancel that out? Does hilariously bad choreography equate to a bad movie? or story lines that don't make sense - such as yanakunda calling Karma "my daughter, my wife". This movie gets funnier every time i watch it. The script at times is ridiculous - and that makes it very quotable. its also a great movie to watch when you are drunk. So, in terms of film making, this movie is right down there with the worst, so i could easily give this a poor score like others before me have. But i watch movies to be entertained. and if this movie is so bad that its entertaining for every minute that it lasts, then it is a good movie. If it gets better every time i see it, then it is a great movie. and this movie has proved to be far more entertaining than most of the "best" movies ever made, so i give it a 10.

some scenes to watch for: all driving scenes, the pointless church scene (he drove to a church and crashed his car just to say 2 words to a guy), the car and chainsaw scene, the puppy scene (totally random and unexplained), i could go on forever

Hello ladies, Leo Fong is back and he is pulling no punches!!

[evanbrowner · 11 December 2004]

Low Blow, the piece d'resistance for legendary Hollywood heavyweight, actor/director/screenwriter and cinematographer Leo Fong, sees Fong reprise his crowd pleasing role as ex-cop Joe Wong. In this installment, Wong is commissioned by capitalist tycoon (Troy Donahue in a standout performance) to rescue his daughter from a dangerous and mind warping cult. Set in the seedy underbelly of the outer areas of San Francisco, Wong must use all his guile as a street smart private investigator to penetrate the fortress of cult leader Yarakunda's compound and rescue the life of the movie's young heroine. A life held desperately in the balance, it is truly a race against time. Realising the limitations of a one man attack, Wong brings together a crack force of street fighting soldiers of fortune, much in the style of Hannibal's A-Team, with the promise great rewards. Wong and his salty mercenaries set in place a sophisticated plan that can't possibly fail. But is it too late?

It is set against this seedy and powerful background that Fong sets about fully exploring the socio-economic imbalance and segregation in modern society, as well as the resultant effect on the innate human need for inclusion and interpersonal relations. Fong craftily using extreme physical violence as a metaphor for self-actualisation and positive external affirmations of inter-conceptual self discipline. In so doing, he demonstrates that while verbalisation of interpersonal conflict can be at times a useful tool in the subtle art of open ended dispute resolution focused dialogue, where concepts cannot be expressed using excessive and unnecessary force they are often not worthy of expressing at all. Further, in so doing, Fong furnishes the viewer with a useful forum for discussing the usefulness of ruthless and relentless violence in their own lives. In light of the currently repressive attitude of society toward aggression and hostility, in presenting this film, Fong bravely champions the cause of antagonism not only as a form of potentially hilarious entertainment, but as a most useful tool to be utilised in everyone's day to day existence.

And in closing, while this movie contains vast offerings for a wide range of cultures, creeds and beliefs, is true to say that the underlying message of this film, as it should be, is that the deadliest weapon is still your fist.

Fong – we can only say thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.

Horrendous

[jstein90 · 3/10 · 22 October 2000]

Even for a cheap action film this was bad. Bad acting, bad writing, unrealistic action scenes. There was no plot, no story, and ridiculous dialogue. The action scenes looked laughably bad. This is a film to avoid.

Awesome movie, brilliant effects. Martial arts breath taking and casting superb 10/10 for me and anyone who watches it!!

[totoman1000 · 10/10 · 21 November 2005]

Awesome movie, brilliant effects. Martial arts breath taking and casting superb 10/10 for me and anyone who watches it!! Leo Fong is an outstanding actor, and his martial arts believable. The whole movie is something that everyone can relate to as what happens in the plot happens everyday. This is a movie the whole family can watch and enjoy, although some action scenes you might want to cover your children's eyes as it can get a little gory. It is good how the producer made the victim to have a personality and not just a dumb bimbo who needs help (like in other martial arts films). All in All well done to all those involved with the film. I will be looking out for more Leo Fong movies.

Hamfisted, dull action flick

[lor_ · 4 March 2023]

My review was written in April 1986 after a screening at UA Twin theater in Manhattan.

In "Low Blow", filmmakers Leo Fong and Frank Harris (who previously teamed on "Killpoint") reduce an action picture to its basic elements: fights, shootouts and simple delivery of expository dialog, with tedious results. This test of an audience's patience was filmed in Stockton, California, under the title "Savage Sunday".

Fong, who also produced and scripted for his Action Communications banner, toplines as private eye Joe Wong, an ex-cop who is hired by rich guy Templeton (Troy Donahue, looking like he's been to a nearsighted barber) to bring his daughter Karma (Akosua Busia).

Fong spends most of the film killing time by staging tough man contests and otherwise recruiting a team to go in and rescue the girl. Script fails to establish the evilness of the cult (other than their hypnotizing and seemingly drugging kids to keep them), but Fong & Co. Go in and kill the cult's guards anyway in ruthless fashion. Karma shoots Yurakunda (bad guy Cameron Mitchell), but her fate is just another loose end.

Sole point of interest in this clunker is the presence of Akosua Busia, actress whose next role after this in "The Color Purple" earned her an Oscar nomination. She is funny, vivacious and ultimately a bit touching in the stock, evil dragon lady role. This film won't appear on her resume, but it's a wild performance nonetheless. Busia's thesping contrasts with that of Fong and the rest of the players, who are strictly monotone. In fact, many of the smaller roles look like they're being filled with pals who work out with Fong at the local gym.

Intriguing, suspenseful and action-packed, this movie is great!

[dave1x · 10/10 · 18 April 2004]

I remember seeing this movie at a theatre back in 1986 when it first came out. I enjoyed it a lot. It starred Akosua Busia, who is now married to movie writer, producer and director John Singleton. I thought Akosua was so beautiful back then. I vividly remember her lovely dark skin and gorgeous lips. She played in quite a few more movies back in the '80s too. Some commenter claims he saw it just ten years ago and he complained about the audio and visual quality. He obviously didn't see the theatrical release, which had fine quality. He probably saw a poor copy of a video tape which would likely explain the quality issues he mentioned. If a title is only available on VHS, I always go to reputable renters like the national companies because they carry the original tapes, not duplicates made from a single original tape like many smaller video stores do.

"Cancel my sandwich!"

[kertwit · 9/10 · 26 October 1999]

THIS is a chef-d'oeuvre, nothing is missing to create the perfect (and I really mean it) atmosphere for non-stop laughter. No acting is believable, the script is ... how could I describe it...Well to make a very long story short, this one's a must for anyone who loves to take fun out of something that wasn't supposed to provide any.

Dangerously direct, ferociously fleet footed detective Leo Fong can do no wrong!

[Weirdling_Wolf · 9/10 · 26 February 2021]

Kung Fu, action movie maverick Leo Fong ignites the screen with fellow celluloid cultists Cameron Mitchell, Troy Donahue and Billy Blanks in capable director Frank 'Kill Point' Harris's bodacious, street fightin', skell slayin', fist bangin', wrong headed religious cult bustin', bad guy ball bustin', Crow International pictures, backstreets ballin', low budget, high kill-count B-movie classic. Writer/Producer Leo Fong stoically plays the kinda' rigid, shoot first, pay later private dick you don't want on your tail unless you want it kicked into next week, dawg! Hired by big wheel business cheese John Templeton (Troy Donahue) to locate and rescue his kidnapped daughter currently held under the diabolical Hocus Pocus of blind pseudo priest Yarakunda (Cameron Mitchell) but discovering that the real power behind the throne is the breathtakingly beautiful Akosua Busia as ice cold killer Karma, who if crossed, will, quite literally, take your breath away! Lionhearted, dangerously direct, ferociously fleet footed detective Leo Fong can do no wrong, and you'll never see a Statham or Carano take a Benz apart with just two steely fists of righteous fury! And with its rough n' tumble, down an' dirtier than a dozen dime a dozen Dirty Dozen's hyperbolic climax, the only 'Universal Enlightenment' any Kung Fu, B-Movie freak needs is a high res Blu-ray of 'Low Blow'.