Bloodmatch (1991)

BLOODMATCH is a particularly stupid kickboxing movie made when the craze for the sport was in full swing. It was directed by B-movie specialist Albert Pyun, never known for the quality of his movies, and as the hero (or perhaps that should be anti-hero) it stars Thom Mathews, best known for his comedic turn in the classic RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD and its sequel. Mathews had a small career in action flicks in the 1990s but never really amounted to much and never recaptured that lovable quality he had in ROTLD. Here, he plays a guy seeking revenge for his brother's death, so he kidnaps a bunch of kickboxers, one of whom is the villain responsible. He then fights them in the ring. There's no more plot to it than that, and to say that this film is rough around the edges is an understatement. Worst of all, the action choreography is fairly poor, and the talents of the masterful Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez (who had made such an impact in Hong Kong cinema) are wasted.

Honestly the plot made me hoping for a Lionheart type of movie, but more we get into it, we find the story is not that much present and you kind of don't feel for the characters as you should do...Fights themselves varies between good and boring. The "Brick vs Mike" is boring but Brick vs Billy was definitely nice. Others where so-so...Basically i had to go with buying this on VHS on ebay, in English(french speaker here) and it felt like if i had knew maybe i wouldn't had pay that much for an old VHS. At least i got it for 13$ bucks, which is less than some seller trying to sell this at 25$....Anyway disappointed cause i was expecting better, but its not that bad, there some entertaining fights. Im the kind of guy that try to get all martial arts movie so im a big fan of the style, so well... i loved bloodfist 2050 when it got a 1.9 here, so thecnically if i find this movie so so, its not that good.ps: whats the point of having a playmate as one of the character and not having her naked in it... ahem... thats weird. This could have get this movie a little bit more fun

Bad bad bad bad bad. "Bloodmatch" is another dud from the Albert Pyun canon. It's poor, even by his standards.Apparently, an unlikable jerk named Brick Bardo (Mathews)(a common name if you watch Pyun movies) is trying to avenge the fact that his brother was caught up in some illegal fighting and got in trouble, even though his brother was innocent. So he and his partner Max (Marianne Taylor), a former nurse whose fight moves make her resemble a female Andy Bauman, go around drugging and kidnapping the people he thinks are responsible. He rents the entire Las Vegas arena for his own personal vendetta and forces Brent (Dale Jacoby), the smug, "Johnny Cage"-style fighter, Billy (Urquidez), a janitor, Mike (Thunderwolf), who is similar to "Street Fighter"'s Dee Jay, and Angel (Carlton), a Linda McMahon-style fight promoter, to fight him in the darkened arena, because for some reason he feels forcing them to fight him in the ring will bring him closer to the truth."Bloodmatch" is dour, dry, dark and overlong at 85 minutes. Bardo, the supposed "hero" is a hateful, spiteful, annoying and unsympathetic lead. The supposed "villains" are much more likable, so you have to question the entire enterprise. For example, Billy is a hard working janitor with a daughter. Bardo is a smug heel, and if he was a good, likable character you could get behind, that would make all the difference. But for no explained reason, he's not. Like Bardo himself and most of the other characters, the movie itself is unlikable. Apparently a hero would be too much to ask here.You get the feeling Pyun doesn't know what he's doing and is not in control of the proceedings. The pacing is atrocious, it is glacial and the whole film feels like a slog. There are pages and pages of pointless, nonsensical exposition that no one cares about. The lighting is way too dark and grubby. There's a song in the movie, "In the Dark". Why rub it in? Be warned: this movie is NOT a punchfighter. It is a fake, a disgrace to the word "punchfighting". Seeing as there is so much needless, brainless and juvenile dialogue, we have, unfortunately, stumbled upon a new breed of awful movie experience: the "talkfighter". When there are fights, the editing is jagged, with obvious frames removed. There are weak moves galore that don't connect. It is never explained why Bardo practically kills everyone with ease. It puts a sleeper hold on the audience.The whole time, the audience is treated like it is stupid. It also feels like Pyun has never even seen a fighting film before and just decided to make one out of the clear blue sky. The result is disastrous.The only positive things you can say about "Bloodmatch" are that Urquidez does an impressive, if funny spin move, and the casting of Carlton, a Playboy girl, was smart as it keeps you from just ejecting the tape and setting it on fire with rage.Your "blood" will boil if you watch this "match" tonight.For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

I think the movie was a nice concept. I do think that real actors should have been cast, and the script could use a major rewrite. Those of you who like movies that are different, and like no others, I invite you to track this movie down and watch it. Its not spectacular, but if you have the patience, and can tolerate the movie all the way through, I believe you would have some appreciation at its aim. Casting Hope Marie Carlton probably wasn't the best solution, and the casting director should have known that after watching some of her prior films. She doesn't even pull off being an accomplished fighter. She does look really hot though!