Adventures in Movies: Dirty Deeds (“The Coffee Table”, Bruceploitation)
This week, things get nasty with a horror film touted as deeply disturbing and a 1970s film that exploits Bruce Lee’s legacy.
The Coffee Table
The first movie we reviewed this week was The Coffee Table.
Critics’ quotes discuss how uncomfortable it will make audiences feel. The director has stated he wanted to make a “cruel” film. And it definitely succeeds on both accounts. But does that make it good? It is one thing to make people watching a film rethink their positions on things; it is something else entirely when the goal is just to make people feel ugly.
It can be argued that Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave (America bangmungaeg) is just as disgusting, though for completely different reasons. Released just three years after Bruce Lee’s death, the U.S. distributors added a tasteless opening and title that have nothing to do with the actual plot. This was simply about capitalizing on someone’s death in the most crass way possible.
The fact it stars Bruce K.L. Lea (aka Jun Chong) may be the most sensitive part of it all.
The actual movie has nothing to do with Lee or anything supernatural. It is a straight-up action movie about a man trying to find his missing brother. It is filled with the wackiness expected of a martial arts movie from the 1970s. Unsurprisingly, it does not live up to anything done by Bruce Lee.
The question is, should you spend an hour and a half of your life with it?
Bruce Lee Fights Back From the Grave (1976)
You can watch Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave on Tubi.
You can rent The Coffee Table on Amazon Video.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST:
Every week AIPT Movie Editor Nathaniel Muir and his cinema partner in crime Blake Heath discuss indie and genre movies you have have never heard of, the ones you cannot hear enough about, and the ones you never want to hear about again.
Episode 274: Bruceploitation Month: ‘Faceless After Dark’ (2024)/’New Fist of Fury’ (1976)
It is almost impossible to quantify what Roger Corman has done for horror. He pretty much invented B horror, launched the careers of some of the most talented directors of all time, and is behind some of the most iconic genre films of all time. His influence can be seen in the video box art that older fans pine about and in podcasts like our own. He is a true icon.
Typecasting is an interesting part of Hollywood. Some like scream queens and rom-com hunks lean into it. Others try to break out of the box others try to put them in. Think all of the comedic actors who have tried their hands at serious roles or child actors who appeared in more risque fare. It is always a shame to see an actor who obviously has a range of talents regulated to the same types of roles.
But what if an actor typecasts themselves?
Faceless After Dark stars Terrifer’s Jenna Kanell as an actor whose breakout role was in a movie about a killer clown. The synopsis is a little misleading (when she is held hostage by a fan dressed as said clown, she must do whatever she can to survive) as it is more of a revenge story than the logline implies. And that is just the first confusing thing.
The lead character is completely unlikable, the direction is headache inducing, and motivations are nonsensical. Are we supposed to root for Bowie Davidson (Kanell)? Why does she hate her fans so much? Is jealousy truly the root of all evil. Faceless After Dark has something to say, and it touches on real issues like toxic fandom and gender, but it is all done in a way that is confusing and just plain insulting. This movie was absolutely directed towards Terrifer fans and they are not going to like what it has to say.
Bruceploitation Month ends with the most famous Bruce Lee imitator of all. He was also the person who brought an end to the genre. Initially, Jackie Chan was supposed to continue in the footsteps of Dragon Lee, Bruce Li, Bruce Lea, and so many others. He did not want that and proceeded to carve out his own name. But not before he gave us 1976’s New Fist of Fury.
Xenophobia, confounding death scenes, a complete downer of an ending and, of course, a completely random Bruce Lee reference are all part of the film. It is a chance to see Jackie Chan very early in his career and has a powerful story to boot. At least, it seems powerful. Since the subtitles do not translate everything, we are left to assume that much of what is happening is very poignant and meaningful. The final shot certainly left us feeling something; too bad none of it was good.
Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.
Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com
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Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror.
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