The Violent Breed Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

The Violent Breed Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 21, 2022

1984’s “The Violent Breed” plays like a movie that was made when another production wrapped early, giving the producers a chance to reuse the locations and the cast, hastily arranging another shoot. The screenplay is credited to Nino Marino and Fernando Di Leo (who also directs), but there’s little evidence of a story or ideas, and characters aren’t fleshed out in the least. Someone, somewhere wanted a quickie actioner with little to no effort put into dramatic entanglements, and that’s what “The Violent Breed” is. Things go boom and actors make pained faces, but a greater understanding of motivation and stakes is ignored, with Di Leo quickly assembling vague conflicts to inspire some jungle mayhem.

Vietnam buddies Kirk (Henry Silva), Mike (Harrison Muller), and Polo (Woody Strode) are now CIA agents sent to southeast Asia on a rescue mission. After saving a group of children, Polo suddenly decides to stay, leaving Kirk and Mike to return to New York City. Trying to make sense of his lover, Sharon (Carole Andre), Mike is called back into duty by Kirk, who tasks the agent to return to Bangkok and hunt for Polo, who’s now a major arms and drug dealer with ties to the KGB and the mafia. Settling into his mission, Mike visits a jungle brothel run by Madame Fra (Danika La Loggia), quickly enchanted by one of her teenage employees, Ayuta (Luigina Rocchi).

“The Violent Breed” isn’t clear on character relationships and personal history, simply offering Kirk, Polo, and Mike as wartime pals (the age difference is best ignored) who’ve elected to remain on the job, handling a rescue operation involving the liberation of children from a jungle camp. Who these kids are is never clarified, but all Di Leo wants is the opportunity to photograph characters shooting at one another, with Kirk taking a bullet and Polo suddenly going rogue, which is the first of many “huh?” moments in the picture.

“The Violent Breed” is hazy when it comes to Mike’s new mission, following him to Bangkok where he’s trying to find Polo, though it’s difficult to understand what the final plan is with this reunion. Sharon secretly follows him, established as the jealous type, but her ultimate arc is perhaps the most bewildering in a film that’s filled with question marks. Again, it’s best not to think too hard about it. Instead, “The Violent Breed” turns Mike into a dollar store Stallone, taking on aggressors in his hotel before mowing down Polo’s army in the jungle. However, before chaos reigns, time is spent on his relationship with Ayuta, a child prostitute who falls for him, and there’s Madame Fra, a Christiane Amanpour lookalike who’s also ready to sample Mike’s hunkiness, though she spends the movie rambling about a variety of topics, instantly making her the most likable character.

The Violent Breed Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "Brand new 2K transfer." Detail is on the softer side, though some faint skin particulars are present, exploring the bearded, sweaty faces of the characters. Jungle dimension is decent, along with the few city shots. Colors are acceptable, surveying golden Bangkok temples and extensive greenery. Costuming offers compelling primaries, along with hotel decoration. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Chroma noise is present. Source has some defined wear and tear, with scratches and jumpy frames, along with brief color fluctuation and blurriness.

The Violent Breed Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA is dealing with age and dubbing, with dialogue exchanges remaining appreciable, but never crisp. Scoring cues are the same way, offering a muddier synth presence. Sound effects are blunt, sticking with louder gunfire and explosions.

The Violent Breed Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:50, HD) is included.

The Violent Breed Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Violent Breed" spends 30 minutes on the climax, with Di Leo staging shootouts and explosions without much attention to detail. Tragedy is presented, but comes across as cruelty, and the ending is insulting, though it hardly qualifies as a resolution. Di Leo has never been a helmer interested in hospital corners, but "The Violent Breed" is unforgivably sloppy at times, emerging as 90 minutes of tedious make-em-ups that's strictly for the Bad Movie Night crowd.