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Starring
:
Yueh
Hua
Lo
Lieh
Ku
Feng
Ching
Li
Lily
Li
Wong
Ha
Cheng
Miu
Wong
Chung
Action
:
Tong
Gaai
Yuen
Cheung Yan
Director
:
Chu
Yuan
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WEB
OF DEATH (1976)
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
After
years of dominance over the martial world due to the dreaded
powers of a venom-emitting spider, the Venom Clan are finally
subdued and their secret weapon is hidden away. As time
passes, the Venoms become a respected group who are keen to
shake of the image of the past. Their leader, despite his
knowledge as to the whereabouts of their secret weapon,
decides that the time has come to ingratiate themselves to the
other nearby clans and keeps the spider's location a strict
secret. Unfortunately, there are members of the Venom clan who
have set their Machiavellian eyes set on the power of the
spider and the influence it could undoubtedly hold within the
boxer world. Therefore, the search is on for the legendary
weapon with representatives from every clan trying to find it
before their rivals. Joining the quest is noted fighter Fei (Hua)
whose righteous disposition is famed as much as his exquisite
swordplay skills. With the help of a mysterious woman who
constantly assists him while hiding her own identity from him,
Fei sets out to find the spider and stop it getting the wrong
hands - but Scorpion, the ambitious underling of the Venom
leader is not far behind.
Chu
Yuan - usually with the literary assistance of Gu Long - has
been responsible for some ostentatious films that verge on the
surreal, but few of them hold a candle to 'Web Of Death'. From
its opening frames to its insane finale, 'Web Of Death' is the
Jade Screen at its most ludicrous and absurd. Thankfully
though, while it is certainly a crazy slice of fantasmagoria,
it is also a very entertaining and refreshing production.
Instead of concentrating on the mind-bending plot-twists and
betrayals that often characterise Chu Yuan's work, 'Web Of
Death' is merely interested in excitement and adventure - it
mostly succeeds in both areas.
Yueh
Hua is always a capable lead, but here he is given a character
with more edges than he is usually presented with. Not only
does he take part in the action and drama, but also a slight
dose of romance and a welcome few moments of humour.
Therefore, Fei is a lead who, despite his incredible
abilities, has a pleasingly human side to him. Nevertheless,
it is Ching Li as the daughter of the Venom clan that steals
the film - charming and magnetic, she is a major reason why
this storyline is much more believable than it should be. As
she demonstrated in 'Anonymous
Heroes', she is an actress who
can be strong when the scene calls for it and feminine at the
same time.
'Web
Of Death' is also strengthened by the appearance of Yuen
Cheung Yan alongside regular choreographer Tang Chia. Yuen
adds a bit of variation to the usual superheroics of the
characters and doesn't just rely on hokey special effects. Due
to the fresh blood in the choreography department, 'Web Of
Death' is a more interesting proposition than some of the
swordplay films of the same time - despite the fact that the
ending should have been better.
'Web
Of Death' would be a four-star film but (and it is a big
'but'!) for the preposterous sight of seeing the heroes
fleeing from a green spider. The final twenty minutes verges
on self-parody as the much-heralded spider appears and corners
a band of swordsmen who are visibly trembling in fear. I'm not
particularly brave when I see a spider myself, but then I'm
not the most noted swordsman in the land. Such a bizarre
sight serves a deadly blow to the well-developed tension and
drama of the film and loses it half a star. It's unfortunate
that such a laughable flaw should afflict an otherwise
enjoyable Shaw Brothers' flick.
Rating:
  
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