Chang Cheh had established himself as the “godfather of kung-fu films” with such historical, costumed classics as "One-Armed Swordsman", "Golden Swallow", "The Deadly Duo", "Blood Brothers", and many others. But his fans also revered him for his superlative modern day martial arts thrillers, such as "Vengeance" and "Chinatown Kid". This prime example takes place in Seoul right after the Korean War, as a kung-fu master, combat instructor, explosives expert, and missile specialist must forgo the city’s pleasures to take on a venal, murderous drug smuggling gang. Representing the Book of Revelation’s four riders of war, famine, disease, and death as heroes against murder, corruption, jealousy, and greed, it’s a brutal battle where the one true winner is the audience. Featuring an international kung-fu cast guided by master choreographers Liu Chia-liang and Tang Chia, it remains a special production in Chang Cheh’s filmography.
