Reviewed By-Paul Cooke
Director : Bobby Suarez
Scripted : Ray Hamilton & Bobby Suarez
Starring : Franco Guerrero , Jody Kay , Pete Cooper ,
Nigel Hogge , Mike Cohen & Joe Zucchero

You just know that there is some low budget entertainment to be had when pre credits a midget , appropriately named mouse , is locked in a bay side phone booth which is ripped from its holding by hand and thrown into the bay. Mouse was squeaking his last as a drug deal informant to the authorities and the local Manila cartel heavy , in the form of a bulking mass of a man and sporting a beard that would need a wearers licence in today’s conformist society , picks both phone booth and occupant up to throw mouse to a death by drowning. Dial Mouse for murder as his number is up , and even before the Directors name of this Filipino caper appears on the screen , as Bobby Suarez.

Enter star Franco Guerrero as Interpol agent Ramon Ortega , returning to duty from his recent honeymoon and with newlywed loving wife beside him. It’s not long before Ortega is back in the fray and feeling the Filipino heat as he and fellow agents act upon the information given by Mouse. They await the arrival of a plane that carries a business man associated with local conglomerate Edwards Enterprises , it’s titular head a long time suspected narcotics dealer. The aircraft arrives but not without a land based escort of gun totting men and an exchange of bullets ensues , as well as an exciting car and plane chase along the runway with Ortega determined to halt the planes exit to the air. Casualties occur on both sides dished out with some decent blood squibs upon ballistic body contact , including a couple of splatter head shots as the bad guys get their hair parted. With the planes wings clipped in explosive style and its occupant brought to a conclusive halt , a coded diary is discovered and clearly the purpose behind the journey made.

The diary is strong evidence against Edwards and his enterprise but its condition renders it useless to the authorities but the mere fact they have it is enough to cause concern for Edwards. After Ortega pays Edwards a taunting visit he becomes a marked man and Edwards sends some of his men to deal with him , to set an example and send a message to all who cross him. Catching Ortega by surprise the mask wearing men invade his home , and not believing his pleas of the sought diary not existing , brutally murder his wife in front of him as she is impaled upon a bladed rapier. The restrained Interpol officer is restrained as the sword wielding killer slices through his favoured left arm and is then left for dead.

Ortega awakens in a hospital bed and has to immediately come to terms with the loss of his wife and his limb as fellow officers try and consol him , knowing his active duty role days are over. Recovering yet clearly traumatised by events he swears vengeance upon those that attacked him and murdered his innocent wife. Upon leaving the hospital though Ortega falls into a state of deep depression as he wallows in despair and self pity and turns to drink. He self destructively trawls from one bar to another , until facing his lowest ebb when he is robbed of all he has on him and left face down in the street unable to fend for himself. On the cast out edge of society he is pulled back from the brink as an act of altruism brings him to a sanctuary where he is cleaned up , and a Sensei master helps him discover how to become one with the elements of his soul.

What follows is an energetic routine of body and mind building techniques that elevate both Ortega and the movies fun factor to the stage before the inevitable last third final pay off. He is trained to become a one armed fighting machine , not only physically but also adept with both blade and gun. His pistol reloading technique is one to behold and very effectively put into practice. Picture a training regime that Jean Claude Van Damme goes through for ‘ Kickboxer ’ but without all the fancy dan leg splits and Rudolph Nuryev tip toeing techniques. This is a real ‘B’ movie heroes training camp not a handkerchief waving rendition of Swan Lake , where the most aggressive tendency is the outbreak of a popcorn fight from a boisterous audience armed with their self indulging over expensive programmes. This is low income culture cinema with a brassy balls to the floor bite that dares to laugh in the face of big budget boredom as it deftly creates an identity all of its own. Franco Guerrero may not be a Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone but as the one armed Ortega he certainly isn’t looking for a hand out either as he turns his stubbornness into true fighting spirit. His mind is also finely honed as his receptive senses attune with his physical prowess , and he recalls the night his wife was taken from him along with his arm. Beyond the facial veils of his attackers he recalls a highly distinguishable ring worn upon one of the aggressors fingers that leads him to his prey , this time he is the vengeful unstoppable force !.

One armed and dangerous Ortega takes it to Edwards and his lackeys as with the help of his Sensei master he helicopters in to the drug refinery , tropically hidden within a remote region of Manila. The Action is fast , furious and final here as Ortega has a big hand in the demise of Edwards organisation and illegal operations. One on one combat skills play off against gunfire exchange and the inevitable showdown between Orgeta and the man responsible for killing his wife , not to mention being the cause of him having to one hand shuffle for the rest of his life.

The clever use of this one armed executioner using his senses as well as his combat skills is well worked in these climatic moments and enjoyably plays out like a daftly enjoyable Rambo clone as he picks off the bad guys. Totally over the top silliness that will play well on late night television to its intended appreciative audience. The most bizarre moment of all though has to be the sight of an out of place German swastika emblazoned upon the side of a speed boat that Edwards tries to escape in !. Could it be that whilst battling to win the fight for justice Ortega was also striving to overcome the Aryan boat Race !?.

Release : Victor
Coding : NTSC Region 1 Japanese
Sound : Mono
Extras : Full Screen Ratio / English Language With Japanese Subtitles