Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Raw Force Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 12, 2014

There are pictures that claim to offer a blistering level of screen insanity to entice fans of schlock cinema into the theater, and there are films that carry on, business as usual, but happen to be pure madness without even thinking about it. 1982’s “Raw Force” is the type of movie that doesn’t appear to realize how bizarre it genuinely is, embarking on a screwy mission of martial arts entertainment that’s all about dangerous encounters , mysterious happenings, and mild comedy. And yet, few features match the sheer oddity of “Raw Force,” which casually submits cannibalism, kung fu, bare breasts, and broken bones, whipping up a cinematic adventure that’s plagued with creative problems but remains undeniably amusing for those who appreciate bottom-shelf extravaganzas. It’s big, dumb, and loud, but remarkably enchanting during its pursuit of escapism, winning over viewers one sluggish crescent kick and blouse removal at a time.

The fiendish Speer (Thomas Lombardi) and his right hand man, Cooper (Mark Tanous), have masterminded a human trafficking scheme, flying frightened young women to the South China Sea, traveling to a mysterious place known as Warriors’ Island, home to the graves of disgraced martial art masters. The land is home to copious amounts of jade, with a band of devious monks guarding the find, demanding fresh meat and drugs in exchange for bags of the green jewels. Innocently boarding a cruise ship bound for Warriors’ Island, Mike (Geoffrey Binney) and John (John Dresden) are eager to enjoy a trip to paradise, taking part in martial art demonstrations with Chin (Rey King) along the way. Cozying up to fierce competitor Cookie (Jillian Kesner), the gang is hit with trouble when Speer’s forces attempt to thwart any passage to Warriors’ Island, looking to protect his jade fortune. Challenged on land and sea, the fighters are pushed to their limit as enemies arrive, while the monks provide their own threat by raising the dead, ordering highly skilled zombies to kill the outsiders.

As low-budget hellraising goes, “Raw Force” has a pretty nifty premise. Writer/director Edward D. Murphy attempts to merge a martial art spectacular with a flesh-chewing horror picture, playing into the trends of the day with encouraging sincerity. Braiding those two distinct genres into one eventual endeavor isn’t as easy as it sounds, leaving Murphy (making his helming debut) confused at times, unsure whether he wants to thrill viewers or frighten them, with the climax of the movie more of a tonal soup than a distinct summation of ideas. Trouble with spatial relationships also cramps the feature’s style, frequently causing confusion when chaos breaks out. It’s actually quite difficult to tell where the characters are positioned during hectic scenes of conflict. Despite the unfortunate reality that his creative shoelaces are tied together, Murphy’s intentions are endearing, and “Raw Force” certainly isn’t boring, doing an adequate job exploring its crazy ideas as the story swings back and forth between an island adventure and a cruise ship catastrophe, always keeping action on the front burner, providing an aggressive distraction as the production’s limitations quickly begin to reveal themselves.

Special effects aren’t kind to “Raw Force,” which crudely pastes in the presence of fire and smoke when disaster strikes, creating shifting imagery that’s never believable. There’s also a Whitman’s Sampler of comedy, with co-stars Cameron Mitchell (playing the ship’s haggard captain) and Hope Holiday (here as a chipper cruise director) engaged in some type of “Laugh-In” revival that’s sloppily executed. The rest of the passengers also get in on the fun, with the cruise’s evening activities including plenty of alcohol consumption and sexual gamesmanship, leading to silly business with sloppy men and women. And because this is a martial art-themed trip, the bartender (who’s a dead ringer for Gwildor from “Masters of the Universe”) breaks ice for cocktails with his head. Fun.

“Raw Force” goes broad, but amusingly so, imagining Speer as an evil man with a Hitler fetish, keeping the famous mustache in style as he sets out to kill those who threaten to disturb his jade trade. Violence is appropriately extreme, with larger displays of gore saved for the grand finale, which highlights the monks and their appetite for human flesh. Nudity is also very important to Murphy, who goes out of his way to showcase bare breasts and sexual encounters, hitting all the exploitation highlights as the journey arrives in the Philippines, creating more time for the helmer to study the activities of strippers and prostitutes. “Raw Force” doesn’t bother with the art of the tease, making sure viewers are satisfied with the parade of flesh before it returns to the body count.

Raw Force Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation represents the exemplary work coming from Vinegar Syndrome, who take an obscure picture and bring it to BD with care. As with any forgotten title, minor passages of damage are noticeable, but the overall clarity of the viewing experience is impressive. Detail jumps off close-ups and locations, while costuming retains texture. Displays of skin are natural as well. Colors are nicely refreshed, offering healthy primaries and a rich push of red for bloodshed. Skintones are true. Black levels run into understandable limitations, but overall delineation is adequate, helping to navigate evening encounters. Grain is tasteful and managed well, preserving filmic appeal.

Raw Force Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does battle with the presence of hiss, but it's unobtrusive, never overwhelming the rest of the track. Dialogue exchanges hit a few shrill highs due to age, yet clarity is satisfactory, allowing for an appreciation of slurred comedic takes and mid-action banter. Sound effects retain their thick appeal, with crunches, punches, and slaps represented. Scoring is adequate, discernible and secure. A few damage points are detected, but nothing that raises concern.

Raw Force Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Destination: Warriors' Island" (14:32, HD) is the official making-of for "Raw Force," using interviews with director Murphy and cinematographer Frank E. Johnson to explore how such an odd picture came to be. The participants are honest about the work's limitations but remain enthusiastic, with Murphy detailing excitement with his directorial debut after two years looking for a gig in Hollywood. Talk of the Philippines is also included in this nicely edited featurette.

• Audio Interview (5:04) with Jim Wynorski covers the re-editing effort required to get "Raw Force" into shape for its theatrical release. It's a brief chat, but a valuable peek into the post-production process, where a bloated 105 minute movie was whittled into an 86-minute-long firecracker.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:12, HD) is included.

Raw Force Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The climax of "Raw Force" is all about the "fighting cadavers," beheadings, explosions, and one-on-one showdowns, tossing everything into the mix to deliver the goods (including piranhas!). It's messy but effective, even with stiff action choreography and editorial indecision. Of course, recommending the picture to the average BD buyer is tricky. Its rickety construction and fixation on bodily harm isn't for everyone, leaving "Raw Force" more suited to B-movie connoisseurs who typically embrace the cheeky wonders of nudity and violence, able to welcome subplots about undead martial art masters and cannibalistic monks without lunging for the eject button.