The Kiss of Death (Duk Lui, 1973)

Ho Meng Hua

Hong Kong

94 min, color, Mandarin (English subtitles)

Review © 2003 Branislav L. Slantchev

With its innovative and entirely original screenplay, this film marks a milestone in the development of revenge flicks. The sultry Chen Ping works at a very respectable threading plant even though her father is encouraging her to switch to the better-paying and even more respectable night-club slut. After a late shift at the plant she walks home alone and (wouldn't you know it), five guys accost her with not exactly chivalrous intentions. They rape her in a disturbing scene, lovingly shot with many nipple close ups.

Obligatory rape scene	Chen Ping, rape victim & soon-to-be killer

So far, there's nothing spectacular going on by thriller standards. Chen Ping goes home where she (wouldn't you know it) takes a long shower. But she soon develops strange pain in her lower abdomen, and begins leaking bloody puss, which is never a good sign. The rapists have given her the "Vietnam Rose," a strong form of syphilis, which (we are informed on the back of the DVD cover), was brought to Hong Kong by American sailors. Bastards (the sailors and the rapists, who were neither American nor sailors but may have raped an American sailor).

Doctors-shmoctors, shame rules	Vietnam Rose is no metaphor

Even with this dramatic development, the film is a pretty tame by thriller standards. Chen Ping takes up a job at a night-club, mostly to be harassed by drunken patrons (including the perpetually lecherous Simon Yuen, who many know as Jackie Chan's master in Drunken Master) but also ostensible to find the rapists. Here's where the movie departs from the well-trodden ground of rape flicks to go into the never-before explored dark territory of rape/revenge flicks.

Holy Shit!	Chen Ping, quack victim & soon-to-be killer

For some reason, she gets it into her head that there's no curing the VD, although not before visiting a quack, who predictably (but entirely inexplicably) begins lusting after her despite her gruesome disease. After nearly slicing his stethoscope, she asks the crippled but surprisingly effective Lo Lieh to teach her kung fu so she can kill the rapists.

Lo Lieh is taken into confidence	A true kung-fu master fears no syphilis

Teaching kung fu turns out to be relatively easy despite many films to the contrary. The main lesson is to go for a man's crotch, which is always very effective except when required not to be by the screenplay. She learns to kick ass and Lo Lieh almost seduces her but she, being the nice person dying of VD that she is, refuses but, being the stupid woman that she is, without actually telling him why. He is not happy about it.

Obligatory toilet hazing scene	The rowdy early 1970s

And then, somewhere in the middle, the film quickly elevates itself to the critically-acclaimed genre of bloody hacking of male genitalia, gratuitous rape, naked women writhing under red light (see enclosed photo), and even some stalking in a graveyard. All this may sound like the average episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but this film has no discernible vampires, werewolves, or any other creatures of the night worth killing. Except rapists, that is.

Not a vampire flick	Exactly what it looks like

Lest one thinks that rape-revenge is easy going, the director threw in Lily Chen (the perennial support actress) as Chen Ping's roomie. She is very nice and understanding despite (or maybe because of) having groped Chen's breasts within 15 seconds of being introduced to her. She has also been wronged by the same rapists, although not in their usual fashion. To help with the revenge, she teaches Chen to throw a murderous deck of cards (don't ask).

Girlie talk about guys to murder	Lily Chen back when cigarettes were cool

She then promptly gets herself killed by the surviving rapists, for no reason other than smoking while the thugs are trying to break in. This, of course, sets Chen Ping on a bloody course of revenge, which entirely diverts her from her original course of bloody revenge. In order to exact said revenge, she tells the two surviving rapists exactly where to be and when so that they can gather as many rapist-friends as possible to help. This they do, and Chen gets her ass deservedly kicked repeatedly. Fortunately, Lo Lieh shows up and distracts many thugs. Unfortunately, he fails to save the day because Chen is killed while killing the rapists. In a very poignant scene, the credits roll.

Obligatory love scene by the sea	Chan Shen & Fan Mei Sheng, rapists

The Celestial Pictures DVD is a bit surprising as there's only a regular (not Dolby) mono soundtrack in Mandarin. The anamorphic transfer is, as usual, in the 2.35:1 ratio and seems relatively nice. English subtitles are bright white, readable, and generally error-free. Extras include trailers, still gallery, and talent files for the two actresses, Lo Lieh, and the director. Nothing much to recommend this release.

October 23, 2003