Devil's Express (1976)

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Devil's Express was in my recommended Amazon Prime video list for some time. And now that I've just finished watching it, I wish that I could have seen it even sooner. This is the kind of movie that I feel like becoming an apostle for - it's a film that hardly anyone talks about and has probably never seen, but combines all of the elements that make it perfect for culthood - it's the perfect mix of blaxploitation, 1970's occult, tough guy cop and martial arts films, all in one off the rails package.When The Warriors came out, the distributor of this film retitled it as Gang Wars to try and make more money. And sure, it's about gang fights. It's also about so much more.Back in 200 B.C., Chinese monks get rid of an evil medallion by dropping it into a hole. That's where it stays until sometime in the 1970's, when martial arts teacher Luke Curtis (played by a man who has an even better real name, Warhawk Tanzania, who is also in Black Force) and his sidekick Rodan (no, not that Rodan, this guy is played by Wilfredo Roldan, also of Black Force) travel overseas on a spiritual journey. Sadly, Rodan can't erase the revenge in his heart, so when he finds the medallion, instead of resisting its evil, he takes it.When they get back to New York City, a demon possesses a Chinese guy and starts violence everywhere he goes, setting up a feud between the Blackjack and Red Dragon gangs. The cops try and keep things cool, but the martial arts action just can't be stopped.If you're looking for cameos, this one's got 'em, from Brother Theodore (The 'Burbs) to David Durston, the writer and director of I Drink Your Blood as a doomed 9 to 5'er!Also, if you're looking for a funky soundtrack, gold lame outfits, a villain named Lo Pan (yes, really), a final kung fu fighting monster that is wearing tennis shoes, Dolemite-esque chop sockery and the kind of movie that five different writers all making a totally different movie at the same time, then this film is exactly what you're looking for. You've got a hero cool enough to help train the cops, but also street enough to not trust them. You've got romance. And you've got fights with missed cues and nonsensical editing. Writing this review makes me want to watch this movie all over again.There's even a subplot where one of the new cops thinks that all of the murders and gang violence are the result of mutated pets that have been flushed into the sewer. And how does a martial arts instructor so devoted to harmony and bettering himself also let a coke dealer and gang leader learn from him? Why did Warhawk Tanzania do so few films? Why didn't they make ten sequels to this movie? When can I watch it again?

DEVIL'S EXPRESS is a cheap and trashy independent action/horror flick shot on the mean streets of New York and starring the one and only Warhawk Tanzania, the afro-sporting blaxploitation star of FORCE FOUR. That one wasn't so hot, but this film's a lot better, a mixed-up mini-epic of disparate themes and elements. For much of the running time it plays out as a straight kung fu epic, like FORCE FOUR, albeit with better choreography. Tanzania and his buddy beat up various goons who unwisely ambush them, and there's little time for characterisation or plotting in between. The horror content is where things get interesting. An Asian demon ends up residing in the subway, mutilating victims left, right and centre, and the kill scenes turn out to be grisly indeed with the excellent use of grotesque sound effects to accompany them. The make-up is basic but kept in the semi-darkness to look more effective, and it's all rather horrific and creepy, as many subway-set films are. DEVIL'S EXPRESS is one of those films where you can overlook the many flaws just because the premise and idea behind it are so intriguing.

Yeah, this one is a good ways away from being as awesome as it might have been. Which is not to say that its a complete failure, rather that those enticed by its combination of genres into thinking it might be some trash colossus should substantially downgrade their expectations. It reminded me most of some of the better works of Godfrey Ho, those films in which the cut 'n splice ninja flick maestro actually had an original script and a cast of semi capable performers. Inept, insane and idiotic in roughly equal measures, but conducted with verve and never dull. The inspired story is of martial arts school leader Luke Curtis who goes to visit his sifu in Hong Kong along with his shiftless buddy Roldan (though I preferred the subtitles in which his name was Rodan) who steals a sacred medallion and unleashes a demon, who returns to New York, possesses a Chinese man and sets up shop in a subway, killing at random and contributing to a race war between Chinese and black gangs. Lots of fighting ensues, as well as plenty of laughter. The attitude behind the writing seems to have been to cram the film with incident so that the audience could never relax and process the cinematic shortcomings. So more or less every moment has either fighting, people saying stupid things, the monster dragging people to their doom or spurts of picturesque photography in the Hong Kong section or vintage urban grime in the rest. The fighting isn't especially convincing (plenty of blows fall obviously wide plus some dodgy framing and people moving at unrealistic speeds), but it's a lot better than expected, with a cast that at least know how to move and a shooting style that lets you see whats going on. It helps that much of the fighting involves hero Luke, played by the awesomely named and almost as awesomely afroed War Hawk Tanzania. His character isn't as badass as his name but he has a solid presence and carries the film nicely, delivering his frequently hilarious jive dialogue with aplomb. In fact everyone gives it their all, even extras like a nasty old bag lady, crazy street preacher or clueless cop. Sadly the monster scenes are quite weak and there are only a couple of gore shots, also the dodgy quality of current available prints renders the subway scenes too dark. The climax is too abrupt as well, though when ultimately revealed the monster is kinda cool in a cheap-jack kinda way. Altogether its a likable rather than good film and a bit tricky to fully appreciate until a spruced up DVD appears, but trash junkies could do far worse with 80 minutes of their time. Slightly generous 6/10 from me...

A black martial arts master takes a student to China for some sort of competition...student finds an ancient amulet in a cave and brings it back to New York City, unaware that a bloodthirsty demon, rightful owner of the artifact, has followed and wants the item back. Demon takes refuge in the subway system, wreaking havoc and causing confusion for homicide investigators. Only said Karate master can save the day in a hand-to-hand face-off with the evil horror.There is no arguing that DEVIL'S EXPRESS is a bona fide trash epic...not a single moment of this film has even the most meager foothold in bare proficiency, yet somehow it manages to emerge as something strangely watchable. Hilarious moments abound...do yourself a favor and track down a copy of this elusive schlock treat.