American Rickshaw Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

American Rickshaw Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 8, 2021

There was a time in the mid-1980s when film producers actively courted Olympic gymnasts to become Hollywood actors. It’s not unheard of to add sporting stars to any ensemble, but there was something in the water around this particular time, with Kurt Thomas transformed into an action hero for “Gymkata,” and Mitch Gaylord went the dreamboat route for “American Anthem.” It’s not easy to coax a performance out of athletes who don’t have experience being in front of a camera, and for Gaylord, creating a steady career proved to be impossible. However, in the midst of his short-lived starring days, the gold medalist claimed a leading role in 1989’s “American Rickshaw,” putting his good looks and ease of movement into the hands of Italian producers looking for ways to Americanize their genre product. The result is an ideal offering for any bad movie night event -- “American Rickshaw” never slips out of control, but it remains determined to be absolutely insane.

In the city of Coconut Grove, Scott (Mitch Gaylord) is a college student struggling to make a few bucks as a rickshaw driver. Offering an act of kindness to Madame Moon (Michi Kobi) by giving the old woman a ride home during a storm, Scott is rewarded with a talisman he casually puts away. Experiencing a boat-bound seduction from Joanna (Victoria Prouty), Scott realizes he’s being secretly recorded by Jason (Gregg Todd Davis), the son of Reverend Mortom (Donald Pleasance). In the hunt to find the videocassette containing sensitive footage, Scott collects information leading to a key that opens a storage box containing the Stone of Evil, an ancient Asian power. Soon framed for the murder of Jason by enforcer Francis (Daniel Greene), Scott is forced to sneak around Miami, looking for Joanna to help clear his name, while Madame Moon provides her mystical presence around town in the form of a helpful cat and a deadly cobra.

The plot of “American Rickshaw” isn’t exactly clear, with the screenplay tossing together a mix of Asian mysticism and American thriller, giving director Sergio Martino an opportunity to do whatever he wants with the picture, as long as it retains sex and violence. There’s the suggestion of a cat’s cradle story to follow, introducing numerous characters on the hunt for the Stone of Evil, which is placed in a storage locker at the beginning of the film. Clarity is soon erased when personal kinks come into play, finding Scott tempted into a strange boat to have immediate sex with Joanna, who works to lure men into frame, with the action recorded by Jason, a thumbless thrill-seeker who also happens to be the son of Reverend Mortom, the head of a megachurch (actually a not-so-carefully photographed community center) who’s after the Stone of Evil himself, but for reasons that aren’t revealed until the end of the movie.

Actually, nothing is revealed until the end of the movie, with Martino trusting general oddness will carry the viewing experience. Constant confusion is the primary idea here, following Scott as he becomes a magnet for trouble, framed for murder by Francis, a Jonestown survivor(!) who’s also looking for the key previously attached to Jason. Joanna’s saga is also worked into the picture, as the seemingly reckless stripper and prostitute who tells the cops that Scott is a murderer becomes a partner with the hero(?), but only after the twosome have sex in a motel room shower (ick), with Gaylord keeping his jeans on for I’m sure a very good reason. “American Rickshaw” is wild in many ways, constantly throwing characters and turns of plot at the audience without explanation, occasionally breaking up the weirdness with chase scenes that eschew Miami beauty to visit such easily permit-able hotspots as a parking ramp and train tracks in the middle of an industrial area. Ahh, Florida. Of course, this is a production that doesn’t fully understand how household front doors work, so perhaps it’s best not to expect too much from Martino, who tries to keep things moving, putting faith in the final act to clarify everything.

Spoiler alert: the final act doesn’t clarify everything.

American Rickshaw Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a "2K Scan from the camera negative." Detail is immediately striking, showcasing textured facial surfaces, including wrinkly aging effects on Madame Moon, along with furry cat close-ups and scaly snake shots. Costuming is fibrous, and locations are dimensional. Makeup offerings are distinct. Colors are inviting, largely dealing with Floridian hues that push big pinks and blues, and clothing adds varied primaries. Reds are strong, with Madame Moon's lair vivid. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

American Rickshaw Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM mix isn't working with a striking sound design, with the thin, B-movie-ness of "American Rickshaw" in full effect. Sibilance issues are common, but intelligibility is never threatened, offering clear dialogue exchanges. Scoring cues aren't strong, but the synth mood is set, and action is never overwhelmed. Sound effects are satisfactory.

American Rickshaw Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan.

• Interviews (18:31, HD) sit down with director Sergio Martino and set designer Massimo Antonello Geleng (recorded separately) to discuss their early careers. Martino provides an overview of the Italian film industry in the 1970s and '80s, celebrating the no-budget ways of local directors forced to use their ingenuity while American talent is offered big bucks to make big screen magic happen. Collaborators are recalled, and the talk eventually turns to "American Rickshaw," with Martino reinforcing his professional drive, changing the ending of the picture in a matter of moments when massive fans couldn't fit into a building, and he complains about American crews and their laziness, celebrating Italian endurance. Geleng highlights 15 projects he's worked on with Martino, making a comparison between the B-movie helmer and Stanley Kubrick. Geleng also shows off the Stone of Evil prop.

• Podcast Discussion (65:30) is an episode of The Projection Booth.

• "Then and Now" (2:52, HD) travels to Miami to compare locations from 1989 and 2019.

• Image Gallery (1:04) collects VHS covers, poster art, and film stills.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

American Rickshaw Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"American Rickshaw" doesn't have much storytelling power, getting lost in numerology and astrology as a way to present itself with some deeper meaning it doesn't actually have. However, it's a fun watch at times, with Martino sneaking in gratuitous nudity and graphic makeup effects. He celebrates the 1980s with VHS blackmailing and hypodermic needle wielding (Scott threatens to give Joanna AIDS if she doesn't comply with his demands). And there's the sight of Gaylord trying to present himself as a dramatic force, failing at every turn. There are a lot of unintentional laughs to be had here, which is the real reason to sit through "American Rickshaw." It's super goofy and Pleasance-approved, supplying an entertaining ride through Italian filmmaking imagination and all the nonsense it contains.