The Castle of Fu Manchu

Blue Underground

Australian Release Via Stomp Visual

R4 DVD

MA15+ Rating

Prior to the Blue Underground release of this film, it was generally only seen on video and in very low quality reproduction. It had lots of cuts and was available in numerous different editions depending on the country of origin.

This quite peculiar B Grade production has been given the full repair job and restored to its full “schlock” glory. It looks and sounds great, with bright even camp colors for the costumes and scenes lit with all manner of strange lighting ranging from red to purple and green. The bulk use of smoke machines makes the experience even more over the top as does the rather overblown sets.

The music score is impressive if not a bit ponderous and creates a great mood, the extras are interesting with a short interview documentary, some background on Fu Manchu, a poster and still gallery and an informative insert.

While certainly not the best Fu Manchu, it is the last Jess Franco/Ala Towers Fu Manchu collaboration; it is of such “schlock” proportions that it becomes a classic cult film to experience. The story has many very bizarre twists and turns. The heart transplant is astounding (the guy is up and about within an amazingly short time) and the use of “opium” crystals to turn masses of water into ice as a way to take over the world is mind boggling.

That being said the whole experience is so bad, it’s good. The constant use of coloured lights, stereotypical outfits (do we see one Turk without a Turban ?), cheesy special effects and wooden acting all add to the experience. Christopher Lee is superb as usual and Tsai Chin is great as his daughter and evil minion. I a bit amused to see it has a MA15 + rating, considering the obvious lack of sex, low level violence and clearly simulated heart transplant I think this is a rather restrictive rating for a fairly mild cult experience, but that’s the quirkiness of Australian DVD ratings…

This is a must have for lovers of cult films, it is beautifully restored and is a pleasure to watch and enjoy.