KILLER CLANS offers something a little different for fans of Shaw Brothers swordplay movies. There's a greater emphasis on characterisation here than action, and the plot is a lot more complicated than most. It involves a couple of rival clans, and associated freelance swordsmen, battling either other in a series of assassination attempts and face-to-face brawls. So far so ordinary, you might think, but this is made thoroughly entertaining by typical Shaw Brothers production values, i.e. Colourful, often splendid sets, and fine cinematography.
The action, when it comes, is short and deadly. There's less emphasis here on hand to hand combat than weapon play, and there's the usual fun from intriguing props - poison darts shooting from the wrist, robes that protect the wearer from damage. In the end, as always, technique wins out. The acting is of a higher quality than in many lesser kung fu movies and Ku Feng in particular plays a good, interesting and likable character with much complexity. Chor Yuen directed seemingly hundreds of these 'martial world' stories in the latter part of the 1970s but this one stands out due to the strength of the characters involved, both good and bad.
The action, when it comes, is short and deadly. There's less emphasis here on hand to hand combat than weapon play, and there's the usual fun from intriguing props - poison darts shooting from the wrist, robes that protect the wearer from damage. In the end, as always, technique wins out. The acting is of a higher quality than in many lesser kung fu movies and Ku Feng in particular plays a good, interesting and likable character with much complexity. Chor Yuen directed seemingly hundreds of these 'martial world' stories in the latter part of the 1970s but this one stands out due to the strength of the characters involved, both good and bad.