Described by its director in the extras as ‘made for 17-year-old boys’, Raw Force is a knowingly silly concoction of martial arts, zombies, action, gore, and nudity that renders criticism of it effectively pointless. This film knows it is not aspiring to high art, but it does aspire to entertain and does it very well. The Burbank Karate club get tangled up in a web of cannibalistic monks, mercenaries, and kung fu on an island awash with jade and undead warriors. If you have ever wanted to check that ‘zombie getting beaten up with an empty bazooka’ box on your cult scorecard, this is the film for you.
For this UK Blu-ray debut, Raw Force is presented in mostly fine shape, considering the film’s low budget and age. The onscreen nonsense is sharp and bright and it’s unlikely to have ever looked better than this. For extras, the Vinegar Syndrome release making-of and audio interview are included, along with the suitably hyperbolic trailer and a new commentary from David Flint and Adrian Smith, who have as good a time as you probably will if you approach this in the best frame of mind to receive it.
Whilst not the film to convince your vanilla friends you have the best taste; this is another gloriously daft exploitation film given a deserving amount of love on a release that ticks the necessary boxes. If such films are your thing, this comes warmly recommended.