Killer Clans | China-Underground Movie Database

Killer Clans (1976)

— 91 min - Action, Drama - 19 March 1976

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As two rival clans vie for dominance in a martial world where loyalty and honor can be bought and friends become enemies, a peerless swordsman (Chung Wa) discovers that the only thing truly worth fighting for is love.

Director: Chor Yuen

Stars: Chung Wa, Elliot Ngok, Ku Feng, Wong Chung, Lo Lieh, Danny Lee Sau-Yin, Yeung Chi-Hing, Cheng Miu, Ngaai Fei, Wang Hsieh, Lam Wai-Tiu, Chen Ping, Ling Yun, Fan Mei-Sheng, Teresa Ha Ping, Kong Yeung, Tin Ching, Cheng Kang-Yeh, Ku Kuan-Chung

Photos

Storyline

Collections: Chor Yuen

Genres: Action, Drama

Details

Official Website: —

Country: Hong Kong

Language: 普通话

Release Date: 19 March 1976

Box Office

Company Credits

Production Companies: Shaw Brothers

Technical Specs

Runtime: 1 h 31 min

The film that set in motion a series of films based on the work of writer Gu Long, Killer Clans is a densely plotted tale of shifting loyalties.

Killer Clans Movie Trailer

Plot

The story sees rivals the Lung Men Society and the Roc Society at odds with each other. When the Lung Men clan leader gets wind that there’s a Roc spy in his closest ranks he must work fast to identify and remove him or else his life will be in danger. With a story that develops fast and with so many surprise twists that it requires constant attention, Killer Clans makes for elaborate, compelling drama within a wuxia approach.

Chor Yuen’s old themes of changing fates resurface in the betrayals and changing allegiances, where one lead character comes to trust an enemy more than his closest friends. Aside from providing constant intrigue and rich characterisation, the story also sets the stage for elaborate swordplay scenes along its course.

Action is staged mostly in astonishing studio sets that recreate intricate building interiors, secret tunnels and autumn forests that make for additional feasts for the eyes. Each character in Killer Clans is a rich one, enlivened with a fascinating array of traits and skills, and many show remarkable planning skills. Ku Feng’s role both amazes and amuses as the leader of the Lung Men Society, backed at all times by elaborate schemes formulated as much as 15 years earlier to save his skin.

Yueh Hua comes across similarly dedicated and counts 72 secret weapons on his person for added flair. Tsung Hua as a killer highlights the ease at which Killer Clans’ heroes can switch allegiances, and Chen Ping as his boss is a nasty piece of work while also providing the film’s racier moments.

Ching Li’s character stands out as a peaceful one, and early scenes at her Butterfly Forest home come as an oasis of calm and poetry amid escalating tension.

Tim Youngs

Thanks to Far East Film Festival