Overthrow (1987)

Overthrow (1987)- *1\2

Directed by: Fabrizio De Angelis

Starring: Lewis Van Bergen, Roger Wilson, and John Phillip Law






****1000th**** Review!






John Teller (Van Bergen) is a reporter who primarily covers sporting events, and he heads down to South America on assignment, along with his photographer partner, Bob Norton (Wilson). These two buddies get more than they bargained for when the small country they end up in ends up in the midst of an “overthrow”. 

Apparently communists are vying for control against the cocaine barons, and, as we’ve all seen many times before, a new “El Presidente” must be installed so a kind of peace can return to the country. That’s why the mysterious Shaw (Law) is involved. Apparently he’s an ex-CIA mercenary who causes governments to collapse. He’s a dangerous man, as Teller and Norton are about to find out first hand. Will Teller live to tell his tale?

Here we have another mainstay of video store shelves in the 80’s: the “El Presidente” slog. We have yet to come across one that is actually, solidly good, and when the best example of the genre is Cocaine Wars (1985), you have a problem. Although, to the movie’s credit, if you read the back of the box, at least they’re honest about their intentions: they even use the phrase “El Presidente”! We found that amusing because we coined the term “El Presidente movie” (or slog as the case may be) - way before coming across Overthrow at a local video store (in the adult section no less - our guess is that the owner was trying to hide the movie, so that he might spare the time of potential viewers).

While there’s nothing “adult” about Overthrow, the movie does play out like a stupider Salvador (1986), except this time around, our two “heroes” are about as likable, interesting, complex, tough, manly or inspirational as two bags of styrofoam packing peanuts. Lewis Van Bergen, if that’s his real name, refuses to take off his suspenders, whether he’s wearing a shirt or not. The man is truly dedicated to keeping his pants up.  But thanks to his resemblance to TV’s Mark Linn-Baker, as well as his appearances in this, Savage Dawn (1985), and Street Knight (1993), that officially makes him the Larry Appleton of action. A title to hold dear to your heart.

 A significant amount of the movie’s time is spent on the Prerequisite Torture of Teller and his pal Norton. But director De Angelis, using his standard nom de plume Larry Ludman, was not able to give this movie any spark, unlike the car battery clamps used on our unfortunate protagonists.

By far the best character in the movie is an elderly man named Kerslake. Unfortunately we don’t know the name of the actor who portrayed him. In just the same way that Wynn Irwin stole the movie Bloodfist VI: Ground Zero (1995) simply by being an angry, crotchety, and dare we say “grumpy old man”, here too Kerslake does the same. It’s all about Kerslake as he blows away the two dudes who are supposed to be the heroes in the acting department. With his powder blue suit, wide tie and utter resemblance to Phil Rizzuto, you think at any moment he might encourage someone to come down to the Money Store. 

But as for the movie as a whole, there is some shooting and mild blow-ups, and the Stefano Mainetti music is nice, but the entire affair is just so blah, the low quality of the VHS (it was released by 3-Star Video, who also released fellow Italian production Cop Game (1988), but not much else) only reinforcing the matter. Whether the dubbing also contributes to your hatred of the proceedings depends on your tolerance for such things.

John Philip Law (or JPL as we call him) doesn’t do all that much, finally putting the last nail into the coffin that is Overthrow. We say avoid.

Comeuppance Review by: Brett and Ty

Rage Of Honor (1987)

Rage Of Honor (1987)-* *1\2

Directed by: Gordon Hessler

Starring: Sho Kosugi, Lewis Van Bergen, Robin Evans, and Richard Wiley




"When just getting even is not enough!"








 Shiro Tanaka (Sho) is a Phoenix, Arizona cop working for the “Drug Investigation Bureau”. Both he and his partner Ray (Wiley) are sick of department red tape, and even though they always get results, the top brass is always coming down on them for their “reckless” ways. While working an angle, Ray goes solo to the compound of the sadistic drug lord Havelock (Van Bergen), where he is then tortured and killed. Shiro vows revenge and uses every weapon at his disposal to stop his arch-nemesis, and eventually this leads them both into the jungles of Argentina where the final battle commences. Will the resourceful Shiro win the day?

Starting from the opening “party boat” scene, you know you’re in for a heavy dose of 80’s awesomeness.  (frustratingly, the one song used in the film, a Wang Chung/Mister Mister-like jaunt, is not listed in the credits or anywhere online that we could find). Both here and throughout the whole film, Sho’s thick accent is in full force. Some of the most hilarious moments in the movie come during the dialogue scenes, where the other actors have to simply pretend his accent isn’t unintelligible. So, to keep Sho’s dialogue to a minimum, he pauses instead of speaks in many cases. The result is amusing. But the other actors aren’t blameless here either - while Sho’s name in the movie is “Shiro”, it sounds like most people are calling him “Churro”. While this would be insulting to Mexicans and Japanese alike, I think we can put this down to lack of understanding of Japanese naming traditions. While this is part and parcel of the whole Sho experience, fans really want to see Sho in action, and they are treated to some great stuff here.

While the film lacks one of Sho’s trademark opening-credits displays of his moves, we do see throughout the movie his wide array of weaponry. Some of which he is credited with creating himself. While the bad guys have some noteworthy hardware, such as long , Wolverine-like metal claws that remind you of Terror Claws Skeletor, in almost every action scene, Sho seems to have a tackle box filled with throwing stars, nunchuks, swords, grappling hooks and many other items. One of the coolest is a digital throwing star which blows up on contact. It doesn’t get any more awesome than that.

But, if truth must be told, there is some filler in this one. This is director Gordon Hessler's immediate follow-up to Pray for Death (1985), which is a much more consistent film. Yes, Havelock is the classic “hiss-able” bad guy, but Limehouse Willie beats him in both the name and pure evilness departments. Once the action moves to Argentina, it gets dangerously close to a standard Exploding Hut jungle slog, and Sho can do better.  We liked him in the scenes with his tuxedo and white scarf, looking suave. Despite what may surround him, one fact is undeniable: Sho is cool.

Interestingly, while Sho is, here, for all intents and purposes, a ninja, the whole “ninja” aspect is not played up at all. No one says the word “ninja” and no emphasis is put there. Perhaps by 1987 the filmmakers felt the whole Ninja Boom was on the wane and they would try out Sho as a cop...who’s basically a ninja.

So go back to a time when men smoked in hotel lobbies (and the prerequisite abandoned warehouses), and Sho ruled the video store shelves. While we believe the best Sho movie we’ve seen to date is Pray for Death, the Cannon-like fun of Rage of Honor shouldn’t be forgotten among those who can’t get enough of the thrills of Sho.

Comeuppance Review by: Ty and Brett