Own the rights?
This film has recently been re-released and I was finally able to get a copy of it. I'd heard both good and bad and wanted to see it for myself. After watching it, and I must admit it's become one of my favorites, I understand both the positives and the negatives.The negative is it's probably over a lot of people's heads. It's a very direct and stinging satire of the low-budget martial arts genre and loaded with deliberate attempts to parody bad cinema. There are frequent references through action to other films, and all of the characters are enhanced imitations of martial arts movie stereotypes.The lead is portrayed by real life kickboxing/boxing champion Graciela Casillas, who also happens to have a killer body. She delivers in the straight, one-expression style of most of the wannabe martial arts stars, then periodically rolls her eyes at the stereotype delivery or suppresses a laugh. In a particularly stinging commentary of the cheapness of martial arts films there is a scene where Casillas is giving a "there's the door" finger point to the local town bully (Patrick St. Esprit). At that moment, a microphone enters the corner of the screen and the direction of her point changes to the encroaching microphone, which quickly withdraws. I am aware that director John Soet is a martial arts insider, having read his books. Apparently, he is as annoyed as I am by low-budget martial arts films because he is without mercy. For example, one particularly annoying thing about low-budget films in general is the use of cameos in one geographical location -- it's so obvious they paid the person for one day. Soet sprinkles Fire in the Night with intriguing little cameos, such as television and musical star E.J. Peaker as the villain's mom, and Burt Ward (Robin in the old Batman TV show) as a local karate entrepreneur. He also slaughters the obvious stunt doubling annoyance in a scene where the male lead, John Martin, is menaced by a speeding car driven by the A-Team's Terry Ballard. We cut away and cut back to a stunt double who is a completely different physique than Martin who waits, then does a somersault out of the way.I will say this, and I am a film student so perhaps that colors my judgment. But the final fight scene is literally the most brilliant planned satire I've ever seen. The gags and parodies come so fast I will list them by number.1. COMBO OF THE OL' "HERO LOOKS LIKE A NO SHOW LAST MINUTE DRAMATIC ENTRANCE/SUPERWOMEN ALWAYS WEAR BLACK SPANDEX." Casillas doesn't show. Suddenly, she emerges over the hill in a skin-tight black spandex outfit to the cheers of the townspeople.2. THE OL' "WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY SOMEBODY DOESN'T JUST SHOOT THIS GUY." The unanswered question of most martial arts films. So we get that out of the way right away as John Martin pulls a .45 and a group of men rush him and knock the pistol into the water, then he straightens his clothes and he and the men who rushed him go back to watching the fight.3. THE OL' "HERO IS OVERPOWERED IN THE FIRST ROUND." A very annoying part of MA films is when the hero always seems to be over his/her head. In our send-up, St. Esprit tosses Casillas around like a bean bag, pins her down and plants a kiss on her, and makes her look helpless.4. THE OL' "PEP TALK FROM THE MASTER." Right on cue, Casillas' martial arts teacher steps in and gives her a few words of encouragement.5. THE OL' "THAT'S ALL I CAN STANDS 'CAUSE I CAN'T STANDS NO MORE." Right on cue, Casillas apparently gulped down the spinach when nobody was looking. She rushes in, muscles bulging, and St. Esprit is like a rag down in her hands. She takes him out like nothing.6. THE OL' "VILLAIN LOOKS LIKE HE'S TOAST BUT HE'S REALLY NOT." While everyone's congratulating Casillas, St. Esprit stealthily sneaks over and draws a Chinese sword, conveniently lying on the ground.7. THE OL' "RAMBO HEADBAND." I kid you not. Casillas ties on a red headband while flexing her biceps (much prettier than Stallone's).8. THE OL' "STAND THERE AND LET ME HIT YOU." The SINGLE most annoying thing about martial arts films. When it's time for the coup de grace, the villain just stands there and the hero pulverizes him. Casillas runs St. Esprit to the end of the dock, disarms him, then he comes to attention and stands there as she delivers a spinning, jumping crescent kick and dumps him in the drink.9. THE OL' "MANDATORY BUTT SHOT." Immediately after kicking St. Esprit into the river, Casillas, in ultra tight spandex, deliberate turns her J-Lo buns to the camera.10. THE OL' "REPEAT THE COOL LINE." Earlier in the story, when her instructor tries to teach her knife fighting, Casillas murmurs "I don't like knives." Now, having knocked St. Esprit in the river after he attacked her with an oversized sword, to herself -- yeah, you guessed it -- "I don't like knives."Getting into the spirit of this movies satire, I'll close by saying it pulls no punches.
You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.
