The past week saw this year’s Fantastic Fest film festival take place in America and, while I’m located in the UK, I was given the opportunity to remotely cover a few of the films shown, starting with ‘Kung Fu Deadly’.
‘Kung Fu Deadly’ stars social media sensation Steven He, and newcomer Michael Tient, as a pair of bumbling exterminators who must put down their poison spray to face an ancient evil bigger than any rat.
This is what would happen if Edgar Wright was asked to make a kung fu movie: a funny, fun filled adventure!
Before this film, Steven He has been known for his comedic videos online so moving over to the comedic film genre made sense, and he’s completely confident in doing so. Considering this is He’s first lead role, he brilliantly plays Danny, a man who feels stuck taking over from his father’s pest control business and yearns for something more. However, he gets more than he bargains for when Lian (Gemma Chua-Tran – Heartbreak Hotel) appears, calling herself a Guardian and telling him that he is next in line to protect humanity against the Undead Jiangshi. With his past comedic skills, Steven He comfortably fits into the role and is hilarious but also charming as the film goes on, and his personality develops. Despite the unexpected turn of events in his life, Danny is willing to learn the ways of a Guardian.
However, it takes his friend Frank much longer to take the role of a protector. Played by Michael Tient, Frank is happy with how his life has ended up, living in a tiny apartment in a dead-end job, and doesn’t understand why Danny isn’t happy in the same situation. Despite this, Tient plays a supportive, loyal friend who has known his best friend for a long time. Even though he shows signs of naivety (there are moments in the first act where Danny brushes off a feeling or scenario that Frank just accepts), he wants both of them to be happy, but to also stay in the same comfortable scenario they’ve always been in. Which is why, when Lian arrives, he’s annoyed by this sudden change and disruption in the lifestyle he’s grown comfortable with.
Both lead actors have fantastic chemistry on screen, and their friendship is immediately convincing. It’s also very reminiscent of Shaun and Ed from ‘Shaun of the Dead’, with Danny wanting something more in his life, while Frank is content with his living situation, even to the point of holding Danny back. But even though they have opposite wants and occasionally clash over it, they have a charming and strong friendship, and the two leads were perfectly cast.
Gemma Chua-Tran was also cast perfectly as Lian, a strong Guardian who has protected humanity for a long time and is very confident in her role. Because the spotlight is on Danny and Frank for most of the time, Lian mostly exists for exposition and to move the plot along, but Tran truly shines in the third act. This is especially the case during the fighting scenes, which is when Lian is able to show off her skills and show Danny and Frank how strong she really is. One of the villains, Marrs, is another character that doesn’t truly shine until the second act.
Played by Max Huang (2021’s Mortal Kombat), he plays a jealous person who purposefully summons a Jiangshi for the purpose of power. In the beginning, Marrs doesn’t have much of a personality aside from smoking a vape frequently but, as the film progresses, his character opens up more and the audience learn more about his motivation/ reason for his actions. This is where Huang’s acting is given free reign and he’s very enjoyable to watch as a jealous, and slightly flamboyant, psychopathic man.
The cinematography and editing are also enjoyable to watch. The Edgar Wright comparison was made earlier, and it’s not just because of the two lead actors, but also because of the camera work. ‘Kung Fu Deadly’ occasionally features whip pan shots when a fast-paced conversation is occurring, or if a fight sequence is happening. This is not only brilliantly executed, but the action and dialogue flow better between the characters, ultimately giving the film great, fluid pacing. The editing plays a huge part when it comes to the Jiangshi, and how they move. Occasional jumpcuts are done when they’re moving, giving the undead creatures an abnormal and uncanny walking style, and one that not only suits them, but looks incredible too.
Even though ‘Kung Fu Deadly’s narrative format is predictable at times, and the ending does drags on a little (where it feels like it needs to stall the finale battle just to extend the runtime), it’s still a great watch. The cast is fantastic, with Steven He and Michael Tient shining in their first lead roles, and the fighting choreography is really fun. But what also stands out is the cinematography and editing, which comfortably blend in with the energetic storytelling.
