This 1977 cult favorite is a good example of the kind of film that makes martial arts addicts out of those with a predilection for wild cult films. To the untutored eye, Executioners From Shaolin might appear a bit haphazard in its conception: the tune radically shifts from tragic drama to slapstick comedy at a moment's notice, and the plotting has a loose, episodic quality to it that defies the straightforward plotting of Western filmmaking. However, those who can overlook such eccentricities will be rewarded with a film that is full of surprises. For instance, both the heroes and villains are portrayed in a dazzling, colorful comic book style: Lily Li is both pretty and powerful as the film's strong-willed heroine and Lo Lieh is terrifying yet witty as the villainous priest who can 'shift' his weak spots to any place on his body. Executioners From Shaolin also delivers a steady stream of action in each of its vignettes, often incorporating a note of humor; the best example of the latter element is a scene which Hong and Fang pit their kung-fu skills against each other as a sort of foreplay on their wedding night. All these quirks add up to a film whose ability to consistently surprise the viewer makes up for the occasional rough edges to its storytelling. As a result, Executioners From Shaolin might be a little too bizarre for the average viewer but offers plenty of offbeat pleasures for the kung-fu film veteran. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi
