Furious is a B-movie like no other; a martial arts film like no other; the best way to describe it simply, is it’s nuts! Everyone has heard of martial arts revenge films but have you heard of a martial arts/sci-fi/fantasy film with aliens and sorcery before? Doubtful.
Furious is just that, it will fulfil all your needs for something that’s just absolute bonkers. It will make you cry with laughter because some wizard dude turns his enemies to chickens and the most dialogue comes from a creepy Buddha statue and a dying pig.
The opening scene sees a female warrior chased in the mountains by a group of hooligans that appear to be ‘wildlings’ straight from north of the Wall. The woman has in her possession some mystical tusk that seems to work as some ancient GPS. She manages to fend off a couple of these Icelandic-looking warriors but is eventually bested and killed for this magical tusk. Back in a tree hut, the woman’s brother, Simon, discovers she has been murdered so he sets out to avenge her death. Simon is a martial arts teacher who seeks out his own former teacher, Chan, to help and that is where the lunacy really begins. Talks of replicants, corruption, men in white jumpsuits, and a mad sorcerer; it’s all up to Simon to conquer this evil force.
Actor/stuntman Simon Rhee (Simon) brings some good choreography to the film (he is known for having the most beautiful kicks). In Furious, the fights are only let down by the rather bad sound design that is too distracting to really enjoy the action. Rhee has now built an extensive career as a stuntman that has led him to films such as Dark Knight Rises and Captain America: Winter Soldier. Philip Rhee (Chan) is also a master martial artist best known for the Best of the Best film franchise. So despite how hilariously bad this film might seem, it actually helped shape careers, so it just goes to show!
Writer and directors Tim Everett and Tom Satori created this film on next to nothing, but with an insane plot, crazed characters and wacky scenes, it’s no wonder this badly-dubbed film became such an underground cult favourite. Who doesn’t want to see minutes of footage of a single shot involving an old lady eating chicken whilst a magician performs tricks and a man spins swords? Everett now works in visual effects and Satori is a colourist, so it would be interesting to see what their combined minds could cook up now and if it would still be as insane as Furious. See it to believe it; although even then, you probably still won’t.
FURIOUS (1984) / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: TIM EVERETT AND TOM SATORI / STARRING: SIMON RHEE, PHILIP RHEE, ARLENE MONTANO, HOWARD JACKSON / RELEASE DATE: TBC (UK), JULY 26TH (US)
